Real distinction without composition?

ArmyMatt

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I don't really see how that has answered my questions. I think I'll end the conversation here, I could go on asking questions forever. Thank you, I do appreciate your answers father, I do have a better grasp of the essence energy distinction, though I think personhood is still difficult for me.

what are you looking for with personhood? what’s confusing?
 
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Nathaniel Red

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what are you looking for with personhood? what’s confusing?

Everything about it!

I don't know what it is. I know there are hypostatic properties like begotten, spirated, and uncaused cause, but is there a hypostatic property of human personhood, or would it differ for each human person? What would that even mean? And hypostatic properties are still just properties, not the actual personhood.

I don't know how it interacts with essence and energies, mind and body. Is human personhood a part of our body? A part of our mind or soul? Something above both? Does it work the same as with God? The aspects of the soul don't.

I also don't know how specifically a human person interacts with the personhood of God. If someone is loving and good, then goodness and love are energies of God within them. But then if the person only "possesses" the energies of God within them, then how can we even call them good and loving? It seems to depersonalize their actions as a meaningless items and not an actual part of their character and being. But if I do say that it is an actual part of their character and being, then that would make it impossible to forgive evil people and make loving people become identical to God. I feel like there is some symbolism with the Theotokos and how she carried God that might help, but I cannot grasp it.

I don't know how two persons are supposed to become united under God, like in marriage. If I cannot grasp the essence of a person, then that means I can only grasp them through their energies. But that seems to lead to lust. Is there some kind of noetic union? How would two souls unite? It just makes it all even more confusing.

I don't know what the difference between a singular human personhood and three Divine personhoods is. The three aspects of a human soul seems to relate to the trinity, Nous like the father, reason like the son, and spirit like the holy spirit, but then when i try to relate it to the rest of the human personhood or essence energies, it all confuses me even more.

None of it makes sense. Essence energies was only really confusing on it own with how there could be real distinction without composition, but once personhood is added it makes zero sense.
 
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ArmyMatt

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Everything about it!

I don't know what it is. I know there are hypostatic properties like begotten, spirated, and uncaused cause, but is there a hypostatic property of human personhood, or would it differ for each human person? What would that even mean? And hypostatic properties are still just properties, not the actual personhood.

I don't know how it interacts with essence and energies, mind and body. Is human personhood a part of our body? A part of our mind or soul? Something above both? Does it work the same as with God? The aspects of the soul don't.

I also don't know how specifically a human person interacts with the personhood of God. If someone is loving and good, then goodness and love are energies of God within them. But then if the person only "possesses" the energies of God within them, then how can we even call them good and loving? It seems to depersonalize their actions as a meaningless items and not an actual part of their character and being. But if I do say that it is an actual part of their character and being, then that would make it impossible to forgive evil people and make loving people become identical to God. I feel like there is some symbolism with the Theotokos and how she carried God that might help, but I cannot grasp it.

I don't know how two persons are supposed to become united under God, like in marriage. If I cannot grasp the essence of a person, then that means I can only grasp them through their energies. But that seems to lead to lust. Is there some kind of noetic union? How would two souls unite? It just makes it all even more confusing.

I don't know what the difference between a singular human personhood and three Divine personhoods is. The three aspects of a human soul seems to relate to the trinity, Nous like the father, reason like the son, and spirit like the holy spirit, but then when i try to relate it to the rest of the human personhood or essence energies, it all confuses me even more.

None of it makes sense. Essence energies was only really confusing on it own with how there could be real distinction without composition, but once personhood is added it makes zero sense.

you’re really over complicating it. that which is natural (essence, energy, will, etc) is that which is common to that nature. hypostatic is that which is specific to that particular hypostasis.
 
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Nathaniel Red

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you’re really over complicating it. that which is natural (essence, energy, will, etc) is that which is common to that nature. hypostatic is that which is specific to that particular hypostasis.

I know I'm overcomplicating it, but this is incredibly important for me, so a simple answer like that is never going to satisfy me. It may sound stupid, but the way it relates to things personal to me, I have had all sorts of issues because of it that I cannot ignore. It's fine if it is too much for you to answer. I didn't think I'd get any better answers which is why I said I'd end the conversation.
 
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ArmyMatt

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I know I'm overcomplicating it, but this is incredibly important for me, so a simple answer like that is never going to satisfy me. It may sound stupid, but the way it relates to things personal to me, I have had all sorts of issues because of it that I cannot ignore. It's fine if it is too much for you to answer. I didn't think I'd get any better answers which is why I said I'd end the conversation.

it’s not that it’s too much, it’s that you are going down roads that are beyond description, and can only be experienced.
 
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