Jaarboek Thomas Instituut 2006 - Thomas Instituut te Utrecht

NICHOLAS OF CUSA 51
theology of religions, according to which the several religions are just
slightly different approaches to the same Reality. In fact, the words
"one religion in a variety of rites" may almost be conceived as a
translation of Wildred Cantwell Smith's famous distinction between
the one basic faith of humankind and the diversity of religious belief
systems." Yet such an anachronistic reading would misread Cusanus'
position as a Christian theologian for whom Christ as the Word of
God is the only true Way to God. Yet, it seems that Cusanus
developed this very idea of 'one faith in a variety or rites' while
reading Muslim sources."
The relation between the basic incomprehensability of God
and the plurality of human approaches to God is mentioned in De
Pace Fidei in a prayer towards the end of the first chapter:
Aid us, since You alone are able to. For this strife occurs for
the sake of You, whom alone all men worship in everything
they adore. For no one, in whatever he desires, desires
anything except the good, which You are. And in all
intellectual inference no one seeks anything other than the
truth, which You are [... ] You, then, who are the giver of life
and of existence, are the One who evidently is sought by
different ways in different rites, and You are called by
different names; for as You are in Yourself You remain
unknown and ineffable to all. For You, who are infinite power,
are not any of the things You created; nor can a created being
comprehend the concept of Your infinity, since there is no
comparative relation of the finite to the infinite. But You, 0
Omnipotent God, who are invisible to every mind, are able to
manifest Yourself as visible to whom You will manifest
Yourself in a manner in which You can be apprehended.
Therefore, do not hide Yourself any longer, 0 Lord, be
propitious and manifest Your face; and all peoples will be
36 See W.C. Smith, The Meaning and End of Religion: A New Approach to
the Religious Traditions of Mankind, New York 1963; Towards a World
Theology: Faith and the Comparative History of Religion,
Basingstoke/London 1981.
37 James Biechler points to a marginal notation in Cusanus' copy of the socalled
'Toledan Collection'. See his article on Interreligious Dialogue, in
C.M. Bellitto, T.M. Izbicki, G. Christianson (eds.), Introducing Nicholas of
Cusa: A Guide to a Renaissance Man, New YorklMahwah NJ 2004,270-96,
here 279.