Wiktionary
n. 1 (context theology English) The likeness to or union with a god; deification. 2 (context theology English) The process of attaining this state.
Wikipedia
In Eastern Orthodoxy deification (theosis) is a transformative process whose goal is likeness to or union with God. As a process of transformation, theosis is brought about by the effects of katharsis (purification of mind and body) and theoria ('illumination' with the 'vision' of God). According to Eastern Orthodox teaching, theosis is very much the purpose of human life. It is considered achievable only through a synergy (or cooperation) between human activity and God's uncreated energies (or operations).
According to Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, the primacy of theosis in Orthodox theology is directly related to the fact that Orthodox theology (as historically conceived by its principal exponents) is based to a greater extent than Catholic theology on the direct spiritual insights of the saints or mystics of the church rather than the apparently more rational thought tradition of the West. Eastern Orthodox consider that "no one who does not follow the path of union with God can be a theologian".
Theology in Eastern Orthodoxy is not treated as an academic pursuit. Instead it is based on revelation (see gnosiology), meaning that Orthodox theology and its theologians are validated by ascetic pursuits rather than academic inquiry (i.e. scholasticism).
Theosis may refer to:
- Divinization (Christian)
- Theosis (Eastern Orthodox theology), the process of coming into union with God