We have no monopoly on apophatic knowledge. If our Latin brothers can use it for spiritual food, please do!
I do understand what you are saying now, although I think the west generally seeks to find the "how" if not the "why," whereas the East is simply content to "know" that it is. To an Orthodox Christian, a Mystery is just what the word means -- an unknown! We simply do not speculate. To us the mechanics of "how" God accomplishes things is not important. We say, how can a tool know its maker?
Seems that God's forgiveness is conditional on the fact that WE forgive others
Most definitely. The Lord's Prayer is unambiguous about it (in Greek)The word afhkamen expresses it as a "historical present," as something we witness as it is occuring. Most scholars agree that in English a simple past tense (forgiven) is a better translation of the real meaning of this grammatical form instead of the more common KJV present tense (forgive).
Other NT references lave no doubt that mercy is required on our part in order to receive it from God.
You are correct, the West generally has a history of trying to define things, while the East is content with calling something a mystery. This discussion on free will and God's interaction of grace, to me, borders on the mysterious.
Other NT references have no doubt that mercy is required on our part in order to receive it from God.
I think the writers of the NT EXPECT Christians to forgive and so forth. They tell us what Christians OUGHT to do. I think they were quite aware that this was not always being done!
Regards