The patristic concept of the deification of man examined in the light of contemporary notions of the transcendence of man
This thesis examines the proposition that there is a correspondence between the concept of human self-transcendence and the concept of the deification of man in that both are concerned with the bringing of human nature to its fulfilment by a process of 'redemption'. The first issue addressed is what it means to speak of man participating in divinity, and this notion is then traced through the religion and philosophy of the ancient classical world and the later Graeco-Roman world as the background against which early Christian doctrine emerged. Some modern interpretations of the notion of transcendence as it relates to the human existent are then reviewed, with particular attention being given to the suggestion that it is legitimate to speak of man rather than God as the 'locus' of transcendence by virtue of the inherent openness of human nature to the transcendence of being that meets it in its ex-sisting in being. The second, third and fourth chapters examine the development of the concept of deification as a way of speaking of humanity being brought to a resemblance to God, partaking of the divine nature, and thereby being enabled to realize the image of God in which man was originally created. The fifth
Cullen, John Austin
Apotheosis ; History of doctrines ; Fathers of the church ; Theological anthropology ; Christianity
The patristic concept of the deification of man examined in the light of contemporary notions of the transcendence of man. This thesis examines the proposition that there is a correspondence between the concept of human self-transcendence and the concept of the deification of man in that both are concerned with the bringing of human nature to its fulfilment by a process of 'redemption'. The first issue addressed is what it means to speak of man participating in divinity, and this notion is then traced through the religion and philosophy of the ancient classical world and the later Graeco-Roman world as the background against which early Christian doctrine emerged. Some modern interpretations of the notion of transcendence as it relates to the human existent are then reviewed, with particular attention being given to the suggestion that it is legitimate to speak of man rather than God as the 'locus' of transcendence by virtue of the inherent openness of human nature to the transcendence of being that meets it in its ex-sisting in being. The second, third and fourth chapters examine the development of the concept of deification as a way of speaking of humanity being brought to a resemblance to God, partaking of the divine nature, and thereby being enabled to realize the image of God in which man was originally created. The fifth
patristic concept deification man examine_light contemporary notion transcendence man examines proposition correspondence concept human self transcendence concept deification man concern bring human_nature fulfilment process redemption first issue_address mean speak man participate divinity notion trace religion_philosophy ancient classical_world later graeco_roman world background early_christian doctrine emerge modern interpretation notion transcendence relate human existent review particular_attention_give suggestion legitimate speak man rather god locus transcendence virtue inherent openness human_nature transcendence meet second_third fourth examine_development concept deification way speak humanity bring resemblance god partake divine nature thereby enable realize image_god man originally create fifth