📘 Lexicon Entry: Analogical Metaphysics

A theological framework that maintains both similarity and difference between divine and human realities, avoiding both complete identity and absolute separation

Analogical metaphysics represents a theological alternative to both univocal thinking (which collapses divine and human into sameness) and equivocal thinking (which separates them absolutely). This framework understands divine-human relationship through "likeness-in-difference," maintaining that humans bear genuine likeness to God while remaining essentially different. This approach enables authentic participation in divine life without either reducing God to human terms or making divine reality completely inaccessible to human understanding. Unlike the theological mutations that collapse mystery into certainty, analogical metaphysics provides the metaphysical foundation for understanding Interindependence as genuine mutual relationship without absorption or separation, while offering alternative to the fragmented spirituality characteristic of the Nova Effect.

Theological Alternative

analogy, metaphysics, divine-human relationship, participation, transcendence, immanence, likeness-in-difference, theological anthropology

Geevarghese-Uffman, Craig. “Analogical Metaphysics.” *Political Theology Lexicon*. https://www.commonlifepolitics.com/p/lexicon. Accessed [date].

Divine-human relationship understood through analogical participation rather than identity or separation

God’s transcendence maintained while affirming genuine divine presence in creation

Human nature understood as bearing divine image while remaining creaturely

Theological language functioning analogically rather than univocally or equivocally

Divine and human reality collapsed into univocal sameness, eliminating divine transcendence

Divine and human reality separated absolutely, making divine presence impossible

Theological language understood as either literally identical to human language or completely meaningless

Maintains both similarity and difference in divine-human relationship

Enables participation without absorption or separation

Grounds theological language in analogical rather than literal correspondence

Preserves divine transcendence while affirming genuine immanence

Thomistic understanding of analogical predication in theological language

Patristic theology of divine image and participation

Eastern Orthodox understanding of divine energies and essence

Contemporary recovery of analogical thinking in postmodern theology

Humans created in divine image while remaining distinct from God (Genesis 1:27)

Christ as perfect image revealing both divine and human nature (Colossians 1:15)

Participation in divine nature while remaining human (2 Peter 1:4)

Theological approaches that maintain mystery while enabling understanding

Spiritual practices that emphasize union with God without loss of personal identity

Philosophical theology that avoids both literalism and agnosticism

Interfaith dialogue that maintains particularity while enabling genuine encounter

Studies of analogical thinking in contemporary theology

Research on participation and transcendence in theological anthropology

Analysis of analogical metaphysics in postmodern philosophical theology

Related Primary Concepts: Interindependence, Nova Effect

Key Mutations: Primitive Biblicism, Tribal Epistemology

Contemporary Movements: Identity Synthesis

Theological Alternatives: Relational Receptivity, Being With

Historical Context: Syncretism

May 22, 2025

*This entry is part of the Political Theology Lexicon, accessible exclusively to subscribers. View the complete lexicon to explore related concepts and the full theoretical framework.*