The Illuminative Approach of Bonaventure in Knowing and Attaining God

Abstract

In theology we mainly encouter with theological and philosophical approach to the divine world. But some theologians believe that these approaches are inadequate and so they prefer theology with mystical and illuminative approach. According to this approach, which has supporters in all religions, the task of theology is not to explain and describe the theological doctrines and then prove them by reason and religion. In fact, the task is to know God and to get closer to him by Divine illumination. One of the advocates of this approach in Christianity, following Augustine, is Bonaventure, a scholastic theologian in the 13th century. Bonaventure believes that there exists no firm theological order without divine illumination and the light of faith; that is, without divine illumination, human beings cannot know and attain any truths.