Beyond the Dichotomy of the Metaphysical God and the Divine God A Reflection on the Divine in Heidegger’s Thought

Abstract

I attempt to explain the systematic position of the Divine in Heidegger’s thought in relation with ontological difference and the initial origin of Phenomenology. For this purpose, the dichotomy must be overcome, which Heidegger considers between metaphysical God and divine God. On one side, Heidegger’s conception of metaphysical God is essentially related to the aristotelian conception of ‘arche’ as highest being; and thus, it doesn't embrace the negative approach to ‘arche’. On the other side, Heidegger's attempt for the expression of appearance of God entangles himself in a fideism which has no relation with ontological difference; therefore it contradicts the criteria of his own thinking. The criticism of these two approaches, creates the necessity of a more fundamental understanding of the Divine according to ontological difference in an implicit reference to Platonic ‘arche beyond Being’ in the sense of a negative understanding of ‘arche’ as concealment, absence and nothingness.