scholarly journals Przebóstwienie człowieka w pismach Jana Kasjana

Vox Patrum ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 185-197
Author(s):  
Arkadiusz Nocoń
Keyword(s):  
Free Will ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Original Sin ◽  
Relationship With God ◽  
Resurrection Of The Dead ◽  
The Dead ◽  
John Cassian ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Image Of God

One of the principal ideas in oriental anthropology is that of the divinization of man. The author studies this idea in John Cassian and draws the conclusion that not only was it known to Cassian, but indeed it is the filter through which he views the question of grace. The author arrives at this conclusion, above all, by underlin­ing oriental monasticism as the original context of the theology of divinization. Cassian was trained as a theologian and monk in this very ambience. All of the elements of the concept of divinization are present in the writings of Cassian and the two biblical models for the qšwsij of man – its creation of man in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1: 26-27) and the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor (Mt 17: 1-8; Mc 9: 2-8; Lc 9: 28-36) – are widely commented on by Cassian and form the basis of his theological and ascetical teaching. Cassian’s doctrine on grace, which is deeply penetrated by the concept of divinization, propounds the idea that, after original sin, the likeness of God in man is destroyed, but the image of God in man – reason, free will, and conscience – remains. The grace of God, perceived through the prism of divinization, in Cassian implies not a “resurrection” of the dead nature of man, but a strengthening of his relationship with God, a passage from the condition of “slave” to that of “friend”. This teaching, characterized as it is by a salvific optimism which is typically oriental, according to the author, should no longer be regarded as a form of semipelagianism. Rather, but with due qualification, it should be regarded as a valid and interesting way of speaking on the perennially difficult quaestio of the relationship between grace and free will.

God′s Body: Epistemic and Ritual Conceptions from Sanskrit Texts of Logic

Paragrana ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-63
Author(s):  
Gérard Colas
Keyword(s):  
Image Of God ◽  
The Other ◽  
Religious Images ◽  
Natural Laws ◽  
Sacred Texts ◽  
Technical Requirements ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Image Of God ◽  
The Universe

AbstractDiscussions on the nature of the relationship between a god, his body and his material representation are almost non-existent in the Hindu devotional perspective, where such concerns are superfluous. Hindu theological and ritual Sanskrit texts, on the other hand, applied procedures of reasoning with regard to that relationship. This rationalization however accommodated rather than conflicted with the devotional attitude. Their attempt to clarify their stand vis-à-vis god′s body and material image followed from ideological or technical requirements. This was done sometimes systematically, as in the Viśiṣṭādvaita school of philosophy where the ritual image is declared to be “a divine descent (of God) for the purpose of worship”; sometimes incidentally, as in ritual manuals, where the process of changing statues into divine bodies is described.But why should gods have a body at all? While some contend that they do not possess any body, others assert that they possess several at the same time, yet others infer the necessity of a body for God to create the universe, to reveal sacred texts, etc. These are some arguments and counter-arguments found in theological texts. The nature of the hierarchy between divine descents and images (which may or may not be considered as real bodies of gods) is another aspect of the discussion.Another question is the various ways in which ritual texts consider the relation between a god and his image. While immediacy characterizes the relation between the devotee and the image of god, the relation between ritual and image is far from being spontaneous. Rituals insure the presence of a god in an image through a technico-mystical process consisting of successive stages and involving patrons, astrologers, artists, priests and others. The final product, namely a concrete god-cum-image, is fit for devotion, but remains for ever fragile, dependent on the continuity of rites and on the material preservation of the image. Behind the ritual perspective also lies the notion that this process of creating a body for a god is in keeping with “natural” laws. Hindu ritual prescriptions are applicable only to the religious images which, though man-made, are considered as “natural”. Supra-natural divine images, known as “self-manifested” images, must be worshiped, but are beyond the range of these prescriptions.

scholarly journals Man - "Debtor of the God"

enadakultura ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eka Oragvelidze
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Human Existence ◽  
Original Sin ◽  
The Sun ◽  
New Man ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
The One ◽  
The Image Of God ◽  
Poetic Work

The main objecvtive of Davit Guramishvili's poetic work is getting to know one’s self. Thus, the author’s lyrical "I" is clearly visible in the poem. In order to get to know one’s self, meaning of the human existence needs to be explored. The image of God as well as the sinful nature has been inherited in the humankind.Christ has redeemed the humankind from the captivity of original sin, paying the "old debt". "Davitiani” is based on such Christian ideology. On the one hand, the poet notes that God undertook the obligation to save his creatures in the first place. At the same time, Davit Guramishvili believes that he is indebted to God as he is born as his image, in his likeness. The second reason behind man's duty to God is the redemption of sins and the restoration of damaged image. The New Testament has imposed a "new debt" on mankind.The main purpose of the "new man", which is deification, begins with the discovery of the likeness of God in himself, then - with repentance of the sins. At the end, the person on the path of personal perfection meets God.Davit Guramishvili's lyrical character also starts to strive for "deification". He regrets that he has been robbed of the light of the Lord. Like a sinful Adam he is dressed in leather, and deprived of the sun of paradise, is buried in the abyss of hell.Remembering the passion of the Savior on the cross is the duty of the Christian. He should sympathize with and mourn the martyrdom of Jesus with his own sins. The most ardent co-sufferer of the sufferings of Christ is the Mother of God. The poet's lyrical protagonist recalls the tragedy of Golgotha ​​and seems to feel the pain inflicted by the Lord’s wounds, expressing the communion of the sufferings of the Virgin. David Guramishvili, as a Christian author, thus becomes an accomplice of the Lord's passion.Such a principle of liturgical thinking in the work of David Guramishvili, first of all, relies on the idea of St. Paul the Apostle, according to which the man would gain life in Christ through crucifixion. Such a concept is also revealed in the old Georgian theological poetry. It is noteworthy that the poet's lyrical protagonist will also replace Adam and by considering his mourning as his own tragedy, he tries to establish a personal "I".The poet sympathizes with the Adam's sin. However, he rejoices by the fact that he is freed from the "old debt" and this time he feels a new duty towards the Savior, Christ. For Davit Guramishvili, the poetic path has become an arena of spiritual victory in order to get to know one’s self. Therefore he establishes a personal lyric based on liturgical consciousness. The poet, through his work, aims to glorify the Savior, express gratitude and love towards him and thus pay the "new debt“.

scholarly journals Synthetic biology ethically evaluated: The creating God and co-creating human

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Riaan Rheeder
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Absolute Value ◽  
God's Image ◽  
The One ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Image Of God

God did not create once and then put an end to it. Testimony from Scripture shows that God continuously establishes or creates new things. Humans can therefore expect to always see and experience new things in creation. With this pattern of reasoning, one can anticipate that the human being as image of God will continuously establish new things in history. Although nature has value, it does not have absolute value and therefore it can be synthesised responsibly. The thought that humans are stewards of God is no longer adequate to, theologically put into words, the relationship human beings have with nature. New biotechnological developments ask for different answers from Scripture. Several ethicists are of the opinion that the theological construction of humans and created co-creators can help found the relationship of the human being to nature. Humans developed as God’s image evolutionary. On the one hand, this means humans themselves are a product of nature. On the other hand, the fact that humans are the image of God is also an ethical call that humans, like God, have to develop and create new things throughout history. Synthetic biology can be evaluated as technology that is possible, because humans are the image of God. However, it should, without a doubt, be executed responsibly.Sintetiese biologie eties geëvalueer: Die skeppende God en medeskeppende mens. God het nie net eenmaal geskep en daar gestop nie. Uit Skrifgetuienisse kan afgelei word dat God voortdurend nuwe dinge tot stand bring of skep. Daarom kan die mens verwag om gedurig nuwe dinge in die skepping te sien en te beleef. Hiermee saam kan verwag word dat die mens as beeld van God voortdurend nuwe dinge in die geskiedenis tot stand sal bring. Alhoewel die natuur waarde het, het dit nie absolute waarde nie en kan dus verantwoordelik gesintetiseer word. Die gedagte dat die mens rentmeester van God is, is nie meer voldoende om die mens se verhouding tot die natuur teologies te verwoord nie. Nuwe biotegnologiese ontwikkelinge vra na ander antwoorde vanuit die Skrif. Verskeie etici is van mening dat die teologiese konstruksie van die mens as geskepte medeskepper kan help om die mens se verhouding tot die natuur te begrond. Die mens het deur ’n evolusionêre proses tot God se beeld ontwikkel. Aan die een kant beteken dit dat die mens self ’n produk van die natuur is. Aan die ander kant is beeldskap ook ’n etiese oproep dat die mens, soos God, nuwe dinge in die geskiedenis moet ontwikkel en skep. Sintetiese biologie kan gesien word as tegnologie wat moontlik is omdat die mens na die beeld van God geskape is. Sonder twyfel moet sintetiese biologie egter verantwoordelik beoefen word.

Racism as a challenge for church and society in democratic South Africa: Human dignity perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leepo J. Modise
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Human Relationship ◽  
Physical Organic ◽  
Philosophical Interpretation ◽  
Church And Society ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Image Of God

The image of God has been vandalised by racism in South Africa, which it is argued is a sin. It is an ecclesiological responsibility to address the vandalised image of God in South Africa. The author will argue from the human relationship as a build-up to the Theanthropocosmic principle. This principle denotes the relationship between God (theos) the human being (anthropos) and the physical-organic environment (cosmos). For addressing this responsibility, the grounds of internal racism are exposed using a philosophical interpretation. According to the author, there is a correlation between sin and racism. The latter is viewed as multidimensional from a Theanthropocosmic perspective.The theoretical framework will be within hamartiology and soteriology. The philosophical interpretation will be utilised to broaden the understanding of the theological problem of the vandalised image of God.

scholarly journals Colin E. Gunton’s Christological Anthropology: Humanity’s Relationships in the Image of Christ

Perichoresis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-81
Author(s):  
Elaina R. Mair
Keyword(s):  
Future Study ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Relationship With God ◽  
The World ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Image Of God ◽  
The Trinity

Abstract The anthropology of Colin E. Gunton begins with the Trinity and specifically, the person of Christ. From trinitarian persons, Gunton deduces the ontological definition of what it means to be a person, that is, a being in relationship and in distinction, or ‘free relatedness’. To be a person is to be in the image of the personal God, which is christological language, for it is Christ who bears the image of God in its fullness. As the true image bearer, Christ’s humanity is paradigmatic of what it means to be in relationship: with God, with the world and with other human persons. Gunton’s christology is also thoroughly pneumatological, borrowing Irenaeus’ metaphor of God’s ‘two hands in the world’: The Son and the Spirit. Not only do the Son and the Spirit mediate God’s presence to creation according to Irenaeus, but Gunton builds on this metaphor to include the Spirit’s mediation of the eternal Son to the Father as well as the Incarnate Son to humanity. The Spirit also reshapes humanity to be in the image of Christ, through his relationships with God, with the world and with other human persons. This is an eschatological project, for in this reshaping, the creation is recreated toward its teleological perfection. The article concludes with a potential direction for future study within Gunton’s christological anthropology. To conceive what it means to be human theologically, Gunton insists that we must look to Christ’s own person.

Knowledge, Control and Consonance in Sūrat Āl ‘Imrān 3:33–62

2021 ◽  
pp. 14-39
Author(s):  
Leyla Ozgur Alhassen
Keyword(s):  
Image Of God ◽  
Narrative Style ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Image Of God

Examining the entire story in verses 3:33–62, this chapter shows that the Qur’ānic narrative style serves to embody the image of God the narrator as being omnipotent and omniscient. In this chapter, the focus is on the literary themes of knowledge, control and consonance, as a means to look at the relationship that the narrator develops between God, the audience and the text. The first section of this chapter focuses on God’s withholding of knowledge, the second section on God’s withholding of control, and finally, God’s creating consonance. All of the parts of the story in Sūrat Āl ‘Imrān work towards putting the readers and even the characters in their place by emphasizing God’s knowledge and control and the readers’ and characters’ deficiency in both. At the same time, the story comforts people by developing consonance between the reader and the characters and even the reader and God, while also providing echoes that signal to the audience that they can understand more of the story if they read more of it in other places in the Qur’ān, thus developing consonance between the reader and the story.

Dancing the Animal to Open the Human: For a New Poetics of Locomotion

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Brandstetter
Keyword(s):  
Sigmund Freud ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Human Identity ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Nature Versus Nurture ◽  
History Of ◽  
Self Discovery ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Image Of God ◽  
Made In

Animals have provided a theme and a model for movements in dance from time immemorial. But what image of man do danced animal portrayals reflect? What questions of human identity and crisis do they reveal? Do the bodies of animals provide symbolic material for the ethical, political, and aesthetic questions raised by man's mastery of nature?The exploration of the boundary between man and animal—in myths and sagas, in the earliest records of ritual and art, and in the history of knowledge—is part of the great nature-versus-nurture debate. In the Bible the relationship is clear: Adam, made in the image of God, gives the animals in Paradise their names. In this way he rules over them—but Thomas Aquinas's commentary on this biblical text makes clear that the act of naming animals in Paradise is a step toward man's experiential self-discovery. Since then the hierarchy seems to be beyond doubt.Homo sapien, as theanimal significans, is distinguished from other animals by his ability to speak, his upright gait, the use of his hands, and the capacity to use instruments and media—man as what Sigmund Freud called the “prosthetic god” (1966, 44).

scholarly journals Created in the image of God and sexuality in early-Jewish writings

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Van Eck
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
God's Image ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Image Of God ◽  
Point Of Departure

This article pays tribute to the contribution made by Yolanda Dreyer regarding critique on the prevalence of patriarchy in society, as well as her defence of homosexuality as a normal sexual orientation. Taking as point of departure her work on the woman as created in God’s image, it is argued that understanding the metaphor ‘created in God’s image’ as referring to rule over all, and not as created as man and woman, has important implications for the relationship between man and woman, as well as the normalisation of relationships between the same sex.

scholarly journals The Experience and Correlates of God’s Silence among Christians

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 532
Author(s):  
Jacek Prusak ◽  
Jakub Wasiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Mood Disorders ◽  
Depressive Mood ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Spiritual Experiences ◽  
Relationship With God ◽  
Daily Spiritual Experiences ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Image Of God

The aim of the study was to find out if Christians experience God’s silence and if so, what are its correlates during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second purpose of the study was to identify the connections between the experience of God’s silence and depressive mood disorders and the impact of God’s silence on other spiritual experiences. The study was conducted online on a group of 771 people, mostly Christians. The experience of God’s silence was declared by 82.1% of the respondents. This experience does not depend on the sex of the respondents, but correlates with their age. The experience of God’s silence is commensurate with the joy that comes from having a relationship with God through daily spiritual experiences. Additionally, the conducted research shows that experience of God’s silence resembles a state rather than a permanent feature with a visible ending, which is associated with a change in the image of God. The consequences of experiencing God’s silence need not to be negative. The conducted research shows that the most frequently mentioned effect of this experience is the strengthening and consolidation of faith.

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