Confused

[White Rabbit]

I have recently read "The Mountain of Silence" which I thought was a great book. There is one part however that seems to go against everthing I have learned so far. That part is "we are all called on to be gods." Also, there was a saint who said something similar, but I can't recall who at this time. Since I don't want to jump to conclusions, could someone with more spiritual insight than me please explain the Orthodox reasoning behind this?

Thanks, WR.

[StChristopherofPalestine]

It sounds like they're talking about Theosis to me.

[Jason of Wyoming]

There is one part however that seems to go against everthing I have learned so far.

Not "against," but complimentary.

That part is "we are all called on to be gods."

Yes, it's called Theosis. However, this is not "Divinization". The two are very different. We are not going to be Independent gods of our own universe. That would be divinization. Theosis is a mystical union with God. Lots to it, but I don't feel qualified to discuss in much depth.

Also, there was a saint who said something similar, but I can't recall who at this time.

Probably St. Athanasius.

[Astronaut]

some of God's qualities can be developed by him in us, others will not. We will develop his way of thinking and looking at the world, we will not acquire the power to create a world ex nihilo. God became man so that man could become like God, according to Athanasius.

[Marjorie]

What this means is just that by becoming man, God has made "man" and "God" categories which are no longer contradictory. Christ is 100% God and 100% man. It is unreasonable to say that something can be 100% blue and 100% orange, but is not unreasonable to say that something can be 100% blue and 100% rectangular, because blue and rectangular are not contradictory. When God became man, He made it possible for all human nature to be joined to God, to be "partakers of the Divine Nature" (1 Peter 2:4), so that, in a mystical union with Him, we will be everything that He is-- by grace and not by nature, "we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2.) Just as a man and wife joined in marriage become one flesh, so "he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17).

"True love is like the flame of a candle. However many candles you light from the flame, the initial flame remains unaffected. It doesn't lessen at all. And every freshly lit candle has as much flame as the others do."

- Elder Epiphanios of Athens

That's all that is meant by it.

In IC XC,
Marjorie

[Rilian]

Was this something Fr. Maximos said WR? What page was it on?

[White Rabbit]

Was this something Fr. Maximos said WR? What page was it on?

Yes, he said it. I don't remember the page though. I think it was towrds the end.

[White Rabbit]

Thanks everybody. Your advice really helped. :hug:

[nicodemus]

Yes, it's called Theosis. However, this is not "Divinization". The two are very different. We are not going to be Independent gods of our own universe. That would be divinization. Theosis is a mystical union with God. Lots to it, but I don't feel qualified to discuss in much depth. [/font]


Hmmmmm? I'm not doubting what you say, but I read some quotes recently by Archimandrite Sophrony that used the word "divinization" instead of "theosis" but seemed to be meaning theosis. Could be bad translations perhaps, but that's interesting as I just read that the other day.