Beyond Words: A Question for Oliver Davies about Transcendence and Transformation

Abstract

This article engages with the work of Oliver Davies to ask about the role of divine transcendence in Davies’ project of ‘Transformation Theology’. While Davies argues that a theology of transcendence paints a picture of a remote God, this article asks whether this is an accurate reading of the tradition of thinking about divine transcendence. The tradition, this article argues, has commonly depicted transcendence as that feature of divinity that enables, rather than hinders, divine agency in the world. As a result, the article asks of Davies whether a conscious positive engagement with the concept of divine transcendence might actually aid the cause of ‘Transformation Theology’.