jo: I think I am beginning to understand your point of view regarding "uncreated energy". We would say that BOTH are present - the Spirit HIMSELF and His energy (grace). It sounds like you see this energy as the mediator between the Transcendant God and man. Would that make the Incarnation an "uncreated energy"?
If I might offer an Anglican perspective (which seems to me much closer to the Orthodox than the Catholic position), essence and energy are abstract terms that we use for convenience of discussion. God is not an essence. He is not first an essence that gets differentiated into Three Persons. God is God because he is first of all Father--a Divine Person.
The uncreated energies are the ways in which the Personhood of God manifestes Himself to us that we might know Him. This is the only way a man can know or experience God; it is always as Divine Person--a hypostasis. What better or more complete manifestation of Grace could any man ask for?
To ask for the vision of the essence of God is to destroy the Personhood of God--it is idolatry.
"If I might offer an Anglican perspective (which seems to me much closer to the Orthodox than the Catholic position), essence and energy are abstract terms that we use for convenience of discussion. God is not an essence. He is not first an essence that gets differentiated into Three Persons. God is God because he is first of all Father--a Divine Person.
The uncreated energies are the ways in which the Personhood of God manifestes Himself to us that we might know Him. This is the only way a man can know or experience God; it is always as Divine Person--a hypostasis. What better or more complete manifestation of Grace could any man ask for?"
Very nicely stated. You've been reading more of those Eastern Fathers, haven't you? For shame -- when there is all of that good stuff being written by modern Anglicans! You are on the path to irrelevancy, my friend... :-)
So is the Incarnation an "uncreated energy" or one of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity? Or both?
Regards