Peeling Onions

Philosophers in ancient India had an "onion peelings" theology of "neti neti", ("not this, not this").

They would peel away at being, saying "God is not this, and God is not that", like peeling away at an onion, reasoning that whatever remains must be God.

Ancient Greek Christian thinkers, such as Dionysius, spoke of this as "apophatic" theology ("speaking away from"), speaking only of what God is NOT.

Peeling onions in excess produces tears.