Would you consider deification or theosis (θεοσις) to be controversial?

[Raphael Jauregui]

In Eastern Orthodox theology, theosis or deification is the process of taking on the qualities and likeness of God without becoming God. St. Athanasius said "God became man so that man might become God." What is meant by this is that humans become more and more like God, but, because God is infinite, humans never become exactly like God.
Theosis: Partaking of the Divine Nature | Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese

What do you think? This is mainstream Eastern Orthodox theology, but would it be considered controversial in Catholic or Protestant Christianity?

 

[ByTheSpirit]

It really depends.

I voted yes because God gives his Holy Spirit to believers so we may be like him in certain ways, such as being Holy and Loving.

But other characteristics of God such as omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence etc cannot be had.

 

[Hidden In Him]

In Eastern Orthodox theology, theosis or deification is the process of taking on the qualities and likeness of God without becoming God. St. Athanasius said "God became man so that man might become God." What is meant by this is that humans become more and more like God, but, because God is infinite, humans never become exactly like God.
Theosis: Partaking of the Divine Nature | Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese

What do you think? This is mainstream Eastern Orthodox theology, but would it be considered controversial in Catholic or Protestant Christianity?

Not controversial in my book. Dead on the money. The purpose of marriage is that the two become "one flesh," and by implication, eventually also increasingly ONE in mind, heart, soul and strength. And since marriage was designed by God to reflect the relationship between Christ and His bride, how would His characteristics not eventually become manifest in His bride given that this is that case?

 

[JackRT]

The word "Christlike" comes to mind.

 

[SkyWriting]

In Eastern Orthodox theology, theosis or deification is the process of taking on the qualities and likeness of God without becoming God. St. Athanasius said "God became man so that man might become God." What is meant by this is that humans become more and more like God, but, because God is infinite, humans never become exactly like God.
Theosis: Partaking of the Divine Nature | Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese

What do you think? This is mainstream Eastern Orthodox theology, but would it be considered controversial in Catholic or Protestant Christianity?

Yes. Not even possible.
Following the lead of Jesus is possible.

 

[St_Worm2]

Hi Raphael, I don't believe that the EOC understanding of Theosis is controversial at all, rather, it's Biblical .. e.g. 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:2.

That said, doctrines like our LDS friends have, that teach that man will not only be like God in holiness, righteousness, etc., but that we will actually BECOME gods ourselves, with Divine attributes like Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Omnipotence, go FAR beyond anything that St. Athanasius, the EOC, and/or the Bible teaches.

The doctrine of Theosis only becomes "controversial" in the hands of those who claim it teaches blasphemy (IOW, that you and I can literally become like the Most High, and/or that God was once a man, just like we are now).

In Christ,
David

"Before Me there was no God formed,
and there will be none after Me"
Isaiah 43:10​

 

[ViaCrucis]

In Eastern Orthodox theology, theosis or deification is the process of taking on the qualities and likeness of God without becoming God. St. Athanasius said "God became man so that man might become God." What is meant by this is that humans become more and more like God, but, because God is infinite, humans never become exactly like God.
Theosis: Partaking of the Divine Nature | Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese

What do you think? This is mainstream Eastern Orthodox theology, but would it be considered controversial in Catholic or Protestant Christianity?

Theosis is normative, orthodox Christian teaching. As taught, historically, there's nothing controversial about it. Theosis isn't about human beings becoming divine beings, but our participation in the life and glory of God, in Christ and the Spirit, by grace.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ViaCrucis]

It really depends. I voted yes but God doesn't give his Holy Spirit to believers so we may be like him in certain ways, such as being Holy and Loving.

But other characteristics of God such as omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence etc cannot be had.

The historic Christian teaching of Theosis doesn't posit that we become the eternal, uncreated, and almighty; but that we share in the Divine life which belongs to God through the gracious work of God.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ByTheSpirit]

The historic Christian teaching of Theosis doesn't posit that we become the eternal, uncreated, and almighty; but that we share in the Divine life which belongs to God through the gracious work of God.

-CryptoLutheran

Pretty much what i was trying to say.

 

[com7fy8]

"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)

How God's love has us become is like Him > "in this world."

Now, an issue is what someone means by becoming like God "in this world." I can not tell you what various Greek Orthodox people are saying or how they really are becoming.

But, in the Bible, Jesus says He is "gentle and lowly in heart", in Matthew 11:28-30. And our Apostle Paul does say how we are called to relate in love >

"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love," (Ephesians 4:2)

So, I see he means God wants us to become perfected in His love making us gentle and humble like His Son Jesus. And Paul says,

"My little children, for whom I labor again in birth until Christ is formed in you," (Galatians 4:19)

So, we have Jesus being formed in us, as our new inner Person. And Jesus in us shares with us how He is gentle and humble. And Jesus in us shares with us how He is pleasing to our Father, so we may become more and more pleasing to our Father the way Jesus is . . . with growing in Jesus.

And Peter gives how we can be pleasing to God, in our nature >

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

This is what the Bible says. I can not say how much a Greek Orthodox person gives attention to this. Even if ones have this in their official statements, how do they go about becoming gentle and humble in God's love? How are we actually becoming, any of us?

 

[~Anastasia~]

I'm glad to see this thread hasn't stirred the controversy and misunderstandings I thought it might, when I read the first post.

I do think it is well summed-up in the single word above - Christlikeness.

We were created in the image and likeness of God. That was always God's intent for mankind. And Scripture is full of statements regarding Christians growing to be more like Christ. Theosis is part of this process.

Now, an issue is what someone means by becoming like God "in this world." I can not tell you what various Greek Orthodox people are saying or how they really are becoming.

But, in the Bible, Jesus says He is "gentle and lowly in heart", in Matthew 11:28-30. And our Apostle Paul does say how we are called to relate in love >

"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love," (Ephesians 4:2)

So, I see he means God wants us to become perfected in His love making us gentle and humble like His Son Jesus. And Paul says,

"My little children, for whom I labor again in birth until Christ is formed in you," (Galatians 4:19)

So, we have Jesus being formed in us, as our new inner Person. And Jesus in us shares with us how He is gentle and humble. And Jesus in us shares with us how He is pleasing to our Father, so we may become more and more pleasing to our Father the way Jesus is . . . with growing in Jesus.

And Peter gives how we can be pleasing to God, in our nature >

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

This is what the Bible says. I can not say how much a Greek Orthodox person gives attention to this. Even if ones have this in their official statements, how do they go about becoming gentle and humble in God's love? How are we actually becoming, any of us?

Not just Greek Orthodox, but Eastern Orthodox of all kinds. Of course, like any other group of people, there will be some who take things more seriously in their faith, and some less so. But if you want to know how it can happen, the writings of many of the monastics, going back to the desert fathers, explain that (though sometimes with more severity than a non-monastic can pursue). But they are very valuable in teaching us how to think of ourselves, how to relate to others, how to turn away from temptation, and so on.

Those who do pursue such efforts become amazingly gentle and humble people. When someone really begins to embody Christlikeness, just being around them has the effect of making people yearn to deepen their own faith.

 

[Albion]

What do you think? This is mainstream Eastern Orthodox theology, but would it be considered controversial in Catholic or Protestant Christianity?

"Controversial?" Probably "yes," because such a fine line has to be walked in order to keep the idea from being heretical that most people aren't able to do that. The term itself further complicates things since it suggests something that then has to be explained away by the person who's advocating for "deification."

 

[All4Christ]

Pretty much what i was trying to say.

ViaCrucis' description matches Orthodox beliefs. We become more like God with the goal of uniting ourselves with God - not becoming God Almighty Himself. Our goal is to participate in the energies of God (personal reality known through His acts...act of Grace, Love, etc...see below for the Greek ), not the essence of God (who He is, true being, ousia). It has many similarities to Sanctification in the Holiness movement.

Energies = energeia - act, action, activity, effect, energy, proceeding

Essence = ousia - all that subsists by itself and which has not its being in another