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To: kosta50; Kolokotronis; Vicomte13
I thought theosis is equivalent to Catholic "santification." I may be confusing it with Calvinsits, though.

Theosis is a life-long process -- a "maximalist approach to salvation," of consciously becoming Christ-like.

Well, I must confess that my understanding of this word is lacking. Off to the catholic encyclopedia and this is what turns up.

Theosophy is a term used in general to designate the knowledge of God supposed to be obtained by the direct intuition of the Divine essence. In method it differs from theology, which is the knowledge of God obtained by revelation, and from philosophy, which is the knowledge of Divine things acquire by human reasoning. It is often incorrectly confounded with mysticism, for the latter is properly the thirst for the Divine, the aspiration for the invisible, and hence a natural manifestation of the religious sentiment. By intuition or illumination the initiated Theosophists are considered to be in harmony with the central principle of the universe. This knowledge of the secret forces of nature of the true relation between the world and man frees them from the ordinary limitations of human life, and gives them a peculiar power over the hidden forces of the macrocosm. Their exceptional faculties are alleged as experimental proof of their superior science: they are the only guarantee of the truth of their teaching. They are said to transmit this truth by way of revelation. Thus theosophy appeals to tradition but not in the Christian sense.
FULL TEXT ... and it is most intriguing!

vs

"Sanctification" which is "Holiness". Once again, drawing from the catholic encyclopedia ...

(A.S. hal, perfect, or whole). Sanctitas in the Vulgate of the New Testament is the rendering of two distinct words, hagiosyne (1 Thess., iii,13) and hosiotes (Luke, i, 75; Eph., iv, 24). These two Greek words express respectively the two ideas connoted by "holiness" viz.: that of separation as seen in hagios from hagos, which denotes "any matter of religious awe" (the Latin sacer); and that of sanctioned (sancitus), that which is hosios has received God's seal. Considerable confusion is caused by the Reims version which renders hagiasmos by "holiness" in Hebrews 12:14, but more correctly elsewhere by "sanctification", while hagiosyne, which is only once rendered correctly "holiness", is twice translated "sanctification".

I never cease to be amazed at the depth of understanding that comes through interpretation of ancient languages. Language has always been a personal passion. I speak French and Italian but stand in awe of those who reach back through the ages to study the ancient languages from the past.

198 posted on 09/29/2004 2:30:27 PM PDT by NYer (When you have done something good, remember the words "without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5).)
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To: NYer; kosta50; Vicomte13; Tantumergo; MarMema; AlbionGirl; FormerLib; monkfan; katnip; Cronos
Theosis is NOT theosophy in any way shape or form!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have never heard the term used synonymously with "sanctification"

The best translation is "the process of becoming like God" but that's not real good. Take another look at post 161 so kindly put up for us by monkfan. This shows the process of theosis. See why we use Icons so much? Read St John Climacus and St. Symeon the New Theologian. Both of them give instructions to the monks in their care about theosis. I suppose that one could say that it is the process by which we become, probably after death, one with God, to become so subsumed by Him that He is our only reality, our only identity, our only focus. Not only would we have "seen" or "experienced" Merton's uncreated light, but actually become part of it. Does this help?
200 posted on 09/29/2004 2:44:25 PM PDT by Kolokotronis (Nuke the Cube!)
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