The Image of God in Western (Christian) Panentheism: A Critical Evaluation from the Point of View of Classical Theism

Sophia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariusz Tabaczek
2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fainche Ryan

Some believe that Pope Benedict XVI approaches interfaith relations more from the point of view of social, cultural and political cooperation than that of theological dialogue. This approach is deemed unsatisfactory by Daniel Madigan, an eminent speaker on interfaith matters. Madigan suggests that interreligious dialogue must be theological if it is to lead peoples of different faiths into deeper relationship with one another. This article will seek to illustrate the importance of this approach by a return to the thought of St Thomas Aquinas, considered by many to be the greatest medieval theologian. Serious dialogue with those of other faiths is not something new. Thomas engaged with thinkers from all traditions to whom he had access–Muslim, Jewish, pagan. His work shows not a fear of a diminution of his own faith through engagement with the “other” but an attempt to deepen it through the “others” experience of the Divine. Focusing specifically on his engagement with the Jewish people, Aquinas’ thoughts on the complex issues of predestination and election will be presented, with particular attention being given to his Commentary on Romans. The image of God with which he works shall be identified as key to his dialogue. It is the suggestion of this article that the image of God, of the Divine, with which one works is central to all engagement in interreligious dialogue, and herein may lie some of our problems, as well as rich potential for fruitful, truthful engagement.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 5-11
Author(s):  
Franklin Hutabarat ◽  
Reymand Hutabarat ◽  
Deanna Beryl Majilang

It is only in the Bible whereby precise details in regards to humanity's origin from the conservative Christian point of view, are recorded. The Bible clearly states that in God's image, man was made (Gen 1:27). This statement reflects the belief that the essence of human beings was created in the likeness of God, and demonstrated that man did not merely turn out to be in God's image but was carefully crafted to be so. However, despite the exalted position of man among creatures, theologians still have questions and debates about the image of God is, and what does it consists of. Many scholars have wrestled with the precise sense of the image of God from the time of the Early Church until the Medieval Era. This research uses qualitative method, whereby the early works of the fathers of the medieval church are analyzed. The research is carried out on a descriptive basis. It is the aim of this research to offer a structural and systematic understanding of the image of God, based on the perception of the early church and medieval church fathers. As a result, a conclusion is formed.


1993 ◽  
Vol 49 (1/2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Steyn ◽  
J. H. Koekemoer

Sally McFague’s image of God: A critical evaluation In the past decade, many feminist publications on the image of God have seen the light of day. This article concentrates on the viewpoint of Sally McFague in addressing the problem of God-language. It attempts to poin t ou t the positive and negative aspects of McFague’s images of God-as-Mother, God-as-Lover and God-as-Friend. Finally, it aims to pinpoint the value of the feminist viewpoint for theological discussion in general and the proclamation of the church today in particular.


1992 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-309
Author(s):  
Abdul Khaliq

There is a point of view popular with some religious thinkers-amongthem Muslims-that religion and morality are two separate institutions andhave very little to do with each other. This is because the former is centeredin God, while the latter is entirely human in content and approach. Accordingto this view, an individual can be moral without subscribing to anyrecognizable religion. Furthermore, a deeply religious person occupies a stationin life where usual relations with the world, including those with otherpeople, are perceived as being so lowly and mundane that they become irrelevant.This is, to say the least, not the essential Qur’anic standpoint.The Qur'an , as well as a number of sayings of the Prophet, does not envisagean estrangement between God and humanity. Human beings are said tohave been created after the image of God: Who is nearer to each person thanhisher own jugular vein (Qur'an 50:16). They a so close to each other thatthey may possibly enter into a mutual dialogue. There is thus an organicallyintimate relevance of the individual’s religious faith with the subsequent performanceof the corresponding moral actions. In the Qur’an, the word amanu(they held on to faith [in God]) is almost invariably followed by ‘amilu alsalihat (they performed good actions). However, it must be undelstood thatfaith is not an honorific term, a characteristic that may be inculcated into anperson’s character in its own right. It rather refets to a barely psychologicalstate, an attitude of mind A person may have faith in the all-good God or insome evil being(s) (Qur’an 4:31). In the first case, such an individual isnecessarily good, in the other, he/she is bound to be morally bad ...


Author(s):  
Alida Maria Jantina Leene

Trinity, masculinity and the feminine – a critical analysis in search of a responsible methodology Regarding the relationship between the Trinity and gender, theologians differ radically. This article first show how the Trinity is seen as a model for gender relationships from an immanent and economic point of view. Thereafter the critique of projection is discussed. In searching for a theological responsable method, the image of God is bought in as a key for understanding the creation of male and female. A Trinitarian and relational perspective on the image of God is helpfull in focussing on the relationship with God, rather than the relations in God.


Clotho ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-72
Author(s):  
Marko Uršič

The Oration on the Dignity of Man makes a claim, characteristic for the Renaissance, that the dignity of man, the real “excellency of human nature,” is not present in any specific human quality or ability. Neither is it present in the role of the human soul as the “tie of the world” (copula mundi), as Marsilio Ficino has taught. Even higher than this eminent human role in the world is the freedom of man to choose his role and task himself. At the same time, Pico believes that Man was created as the image of God, in the sense that no man is determined in advance: human free will reflects God’s free will in creation. From the point of view of the mainstream modern dualism, this is a paradox, even a contradiction. This paper argues the opposite: that the human free will is even nowadays, not less than in the Renaissance period, compatible with the belief in God. However, this is only the case if God (being transcendent or immanent to the world) does not command anything, if God does not demand anything – except love. Violence and killing are eo ipso prohibited, especially in the name of faith. Therefore, freedom and faith are perfectly compatible. Even more, modern humans are fatally unfree either in the secular “radicalization” of faith or in the atheistic secularization of the world. Unfree due to their existence (Dasein), enslaved by the Angst of “mere nothing.”


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolar Yuwono

<p>This paper discusses the translation quality of quranic verses from the point of view of their sensitivity. As containing many values and ways of life the problem that the people are facing is how to understand the values that exist in, between and beyond the lines of the Quran verses. The question is whether translation and interpretation can answer it. As a matter of fact, Qur’an verses have sensitivity to be responded in the form of the translated texts. The translated texts of Qur’an can be sensitive and controversial. Several translation version of quranic verses were taken as data to see the level of their sensitivity which can be seen from some aspect: that it may be contrary (1) to the state, (2) to religion (in a broad sense to the culture), (3) to decency, and (4) to private citizens. This category leads to a concomitant quartet of grounds for censorship: sedition, blasphemy, obscenity, and libel. The word “Yaddullah” in the section of “Al fath -verse-10”, for example, from the perspective of the contextual content of the text, would have become dichotomical meaning or even multicotomical ones. The first one tends to use the foriegnization, while the second tends to use domestication. Those who defend the word “Yaddun” as “the hand” or “tangan” as its word equivalence want to make their translation original not going out of the context of Islamic teaching. They believe that those who have gone out of Islamic teaching include unbelievers (that reject faith) and idolaters. The translation of “yaddu” into “hand” or “tangan” , according to some Muslims, contains the implication that the translator has its implied lack of respect for the original text, and because of the defeatist view of the ability of the target audience which entails.On the other hand, those who have translated that word “yaddun” into “power” or “kekuasaan” think that the translation into “hand” or “tangan” will disrupt and distort the image of God (Allah) existence. They are afraid that people think God is like human being having hands, head, legs and other part of the human body. Qur’an as a God’s text which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad via the archangel Gabriel, and intended for all times and all places needs to be perceived carefully because many of its verses are still stated in the forms of general statement. They need to be translated and interpreted in a way that makes people live peacefully, not on the other way around. The deference point of view in understanding Qur’an verses must be supposed to be something that makes perspective of Muslims wide and tolerant.</p><p> </p><p> </p>


Author(s):  
E.M. Krivolapova

The article explores the influence of Vl. Solovyov's philosophy of love on A. Kuprin’s and M. Prishvin's creativity. It is noted that the theme of love is one of the main themes in the culture of the Silver Age. It was widely reflected not only in Russian literature, but also in philosophy, theology. It is indicated that the problems of love and sex, family and marriage, the emancipation of women have become the subject of attention of philosophers of the turn of the XIX – XXth centuries: V.S. Solovyov, N.F. Fedorov, V.V. Rozanov, N.A. Berdyaev, P.A. Florensky, S.L. Frank. It is emphasized that in coverage of these problems the absolute priority belongs to Vl. Solovyov, since the main provisions of his philosophy of love influenced the work of both modernists and neorealists. Attention is drawn to the fact that the problem of the influence of Vl. Solovyov's "metaphysics of love" on the work of neorealist writers is not fully explored. The author of the article reveals presence of the basic ideas of Vl. Solovyov's "metaphysics of love" in Kuprin's works and Prishvin's diaries. It is emphasized that the ideas of Vl. Solovyov about the transforming power of love, about the restoration in man of the image of God are turned out to be the most significant for writers. It is noted that in Kuprin's works the main emphasis is laid on the following provisions of Vl. Solovyov's "metaphysics of love": the power of love that can withstand death, and its "uniqueness". From this point of view, the novels “Garnet Bracelet” and “Loneliness” are analyzed. Special attention is paid to Prishvin's diaries, in which the problem of love, sex, marriage is interpreted in line with the philosophical ideas of Vl. Solovyov. The similarity of views of Vl. Solovyov and M. Prishvin on the essence of love as a bodily-spiritual unity, "the embodiment of true ideal humanity" are revealed. It is concluded that, in understanding the ontological essence of love, views of A. Kuprin and M. Prishvin are close to the philosophy of love by Vl. Solovyov.


Author(s):  
Alan L. Mittleman

This chapter moves into the political and economic aspects of human nature. Given scarcity and interdependence, what sense has Judaism made of the material well-being necessary for human flourishing? What are Jewish attitudes toward prosperity, market relations, labor, and leisure? What has Judaism had to say about the political dimensions of human nature? If all humans are made in the image of God, what does that original equality imply for political order, authority, and justice? In what kinds of systems can human beings best flourish? It argues that Jewish tradition shows that we act in conformity with our nature when we elevate, improve, and sanctify it. As co-creators of the world with God, we are not just the sport of our biochemistry. We are persons who can select and choose among the traits that comprise our very own natures, cultivating some and weeding out others.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. P. K. Kar

Gandhiji’s method of conflict resolution was based on truth and non-violence. Truth was for him the image of God. He did not believe in personal God. For Gandhi truth is God and God is truth. Life is a laboratory where experiments are carried on. That is why he named his autobiography “My Experiment with Truth”, without these experiments truth cannot be achieved. According to Gandhi, the sayings of a pure soul which possesses nonviolence, non-stealing, true speech, celibacy and non-possession is truth. The truth of Gandhiji was not confined to any country or community. In other words , his religion had no geographical limits. His patriotism was not different from the service of human beings but was its part and parcel(Mishra:102). Gandhiji developed an integral approach and perspective to the concept of life itself on the basis of experience and experiments. His ideas ,which came to be known to be his philosophy, were a part of his relentless search for truth(Iyer:270). The realization of this truth is possible only with the help of non-violence The negative concept of Ahimsa presupposes the absence of selfishness, jealousy and anger, but the positive conception of ahimsa demands the qualities of love ,liberalism, patience, resistance of injustice, and brutal force.


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