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The Divine Image: A Comprehensive Analysis
Introduction:
Have you ever gazed upon a religious icon, a sculpted deity, or a painted depiction of a divine being and felt a profound connection? The power of the divine image transcends mere aesthetics; it's a complex interplay of artistic expression, theological meaning, cultural context, and individual interpretation. This comprehensive analysis delves into the multifaceted world of divine images, exploring their historical evolution, symbolic language, psychological impact, and continuing relevance in contemporary society. We'll unravel the mysteries behind their creation, examining the techniques, materials, and motivations that shaped their visual narratives and their enduring influence on faith and belief. Prepare to embark on a journey through art history, religious studies, and psychology to understand the profound significance of the divine image.
1. The Historical Evolution of Divine Imagery:
From the earliest cave paintings depicting anthropomorphic deities to the intricate iconography of Renaissance masterpieces and the modern interpretations of divine figures, the portrayal of the divine has undergone a dramatic transformation. Early forms often lacked the realism we associate with later periods, emphasizing symbolic representation over anatomical accuracy. The development of artistic techniques, coupled with evolving theological understandings, profoundly influenced the style and meaning of divine images. Consider the shift from the stylized figures of ancient Egyptian art to the increasingly naturalistic depictions of the Greco-Roman world, and the subsequent impact of Christianity on the representation of God, Jesus, and the saints. The analysis of these shifts reveals a fascinating dialogue between artistic innovation and religious belief. We'll examine key periods and movements, highlighting significant stylistic changes and their theological implications.
2. Decoding the Symbolic Language of Divine Images:
Divine images are rarely straightforward representations. They are laden with symbolism, often employing intricate codes and conventions to convey complex theological concepts and narratives. Color, gesture, posture, and even the choice of materials all contribute to the image's overall meaning. For example, the use of gold in religious art often signifies divinity and immortality, while specific hand gestures (mudras) in Buddhist and Hindu art carry profound spiritual significance. Understanding these symbolic languages requires careful analysis of the historical and cultural context in which the image was created. This section explores common symbols associated with divine representation across different faiths and cultures, providing a framework for interpreting their deeper meaning.
3. The Psychological Impact of Divine Images:
The impact of divine images extends beyond the realm of religious belief. Psychologically, these images can evoke powerful emotions, ranging from awe and reverence to comfort and inspiration. Neurotheological studies have even explored the brain's response to religious imagery, highlighting the potential for these images to activate areas associated with reward and emotional processing. This section investigates the psychological mechanisms through which divine images influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We'll explore the role of cognitive biases, emotional contagion, and the power of visual cues in shaping religious experiences and beliefs.
4. The Divine Image in Contemporary Society:
Despite the rise of secularism, divine images continue to hold significant cultural and social relevance. They remain potent symbols in religious practices, appearing in places of worship, religious literature, and personal devotional objects. Furthermore, divine images often appear in secular contexts, influencing artistic expression, fashion, and even political discourse. This section explores the evolving role of the divine image in contemporary society, examining its presence in popular culture, its use in political propaganda, and its continued impact on individual spiritual journeys. We will also touch upon the controversies surrounding the representation of religious figures and the ongoing debates about religious freedom and artistic expression.
5. Analyzing Specific Examples: Case Studies of Divine Imagery:
To further illustrate the concepts discussed, this section presents in-depth case studies of specific divine images. These examples will be chosen to represent diverse cultures, religions, and historical periods, offering a comparative perspective on the creation and interpretation of divine imagery. Through detailed analysis, we'll demonstrate how the principles outlined in previous sections can be applied to understand the complexities and significance of specific artistic works. This practical application will enhance the reader's ability to critically engage with divine images encountered in various contexts.
A Proposed Book Outline: "The Divine Image: A Multifaceted Analysis"
Introduction: Defining the scope and purpose of the book. Introducing the key themes and concepts to be explored.
Chapter 1: Historical Trajectories: Tracing the evolution of divine imagery across different cultures and historical periods.
Chapter 2: Symbolic Languages: Decoding the visual language of divine images, including color, gesture, and iconography.
Chapter 3: Psychology of Faith and Representation: Exploring the psychological impact of divine images on belief, emotion, and behavior.
Chapter 4: Divine Images in the Modern World: Analyzing the continuing relevance and evolving role of divine images in contemporary society.
Chapter 5: Case Studies: In-depth analysis of specific examples of divine imagery from various cultures and religions.
Conclusion: Summarizing key findings, highlighting the enduring power of divine images, and suggesting avenues for future research.
(Each chapter would then be elaborated on extensively, similar to the sections above, providing detailed analysis, historical context, and relevant examples.)
9 Unique FAQs:
1. What is the difference between an icon and a religious painting? (Focuses on stylistic and theological distinctions)
2. How do divine images contribute to the formation of religious identity? (Explores the psychological and sociological aspects)
3. Are there ethical considerations in depicting divine figures? (Addresses controversies and debates surrounding representation)
4. How has technology influenced the creation and dissemination of divine images? (Covers digital art, social media, etc.)
5. What role do divine images play in interfaith dialogue and understanding? (Examines potential for bridging divides)
6. How have feminist perspectives challenged traditional depictions of the divine? (Highlights critiques and alternative representations)
7. Can the analysis of divine images shed light on the history of a culture? (Emphasizes the cultural context and historical narratives)
8. What are some examples of modern interpretations of divine images? (Shows contemporary artistic expressions)
9. How can studying divine images enhance our understanding of human spirituality? (Broadens the discussion to encompass the human experience)
9 Related Articles:
1. The Iconography of the Virgin Mary: An analysis of the evolution and symbolism of Mary's depiction in Christian art.
2. Hindu Deities and Their Visual Representations: An exploration of the iconography and symbolism in Hindu religious art.
3. The Power of Buddhist Mandala: A study of the symbolic significance and meditative function of mandalas.
4. Ancient Egyptian Gods and Their Artistic Portrayals: An examination of the visual representation of deities in ancient Egyptian culture.
5. The Divine Feminine in Mythology and Art: An analysis of the portrayal of female deities across different cultures.
6. The Role of Divine Images in Medieval Church Architecture: A study of the function and placement of religious imagery in medieval cathedrals.
7. The Impact of the Reformation on Religious Imagery: An exploration of the changes in religious art following the Protestant Reformation.
8. Contemporary Religious Art and its Challenges: A discussion of modern interpretations and the ongoing debates within religious art.
9. The Psychology of Religious Symbolism: An in-depth examination of the psychological impact and cognitive processes associated with religious symbols and imagery.
| the divine image analysis: Songs of Innocence William Blake, 1789 |
| the divine image analysis: The Divine Image Jill Middlemas, 2015-01-09 Although attempts to understand the growth of aniconism focus on the Pentateuchal legal material, scholars increasingly make reference to the prophetic literature to illuminate the debate. Jill Middlemas provides the first comprehensive analysis of the prophets with attention to rhetorical strategies that reflect anti-iconic thought and promote iconoclasm. After illuminating the idol polemics, which is the rhetoric most often associated with aniconism, she draws out how prophecy also exposes a reticence towards cultic symbols and mental images of Yahweh. At the same time the theme of incomparability as well as the use of metaphor and multiple imaging, paradoxically, reveal additional ways to express aniconic belief or the destabilization of a single divine image. Middlemas' analysis of prophetic aniconism sheds new light on interpretations of the most iconic expression in the Old Testament, the imago dei passages in Genesis, where God is said to create humanity in the divine image. |
| the divine image analysis: The Divine Image Ian Alexander McFarland, Theologian Ian McFarland claims that Christians have mainly misappropriated the image of God language for 2000 years and thereby missed a rich resource for our knowledge of God. What, then, does it mean to say that we are made in God's image, or that Christ is the very image or prototype of God? Rather than referring to some germinal divine element in humans, such as reason, McFarland claims that the image of God in us tells us something about God and how we know God. It tells us that God, though not identical with us, communicates Godself to us in creative love, in a way that offers precious clues about God's transcendence, immanence, triune life, self-disclosure, incarnation, and intentions for human life. Too, we learn from Jesus something new about God. Gathered as Christ's body, the church too images God and sets us on a quest to discern the image of God in Christ's incarnate body. McFarland's careful and exacting work builds from this kernel a powerful Christian vision of God's life and our own destiny in Christ. |
| the divine image analysis: Darśan, Seeing the Divine Image in India Diana L. Eck, 1981 Drawing from topics of religion in India such as bhakti, puja rituals, and spirit posessions, these essays offer a close study of the physical representations of god as the central feature of Hinduism. A valuable tool for students of anthroplogy and the philosophy and history of religion. -- |
| the divine image analysis: Reflecting the Divine Image H. Ray Dunning, 2003-10-08 John Wesley strived for a theology--a theology both written and lived--that delicately balanced sanctification and justification. He hoped to uphold both faith alone and holy living. Sadly, says theologian H. Ray Dunning, many of Wesley's followers have not maintained that balance. Some have tended toward legalism, some toward a preoccupation with personal holiness, and others toward social activism with little theological grounding. Dunning believes Wesleyanism possesses the resources to help all Christians reflect the divine image, and to do so holistically, in all aspects of life. His book incisively examines issues of ethical methodology and then shows how an ethic based on the Imago Dei shapes our relation to God, to one another and to the earth. This introduction to and overview of ethics will enlighten and benefit Christians in all traditions, not despite but especially because it is written in the true Wesleyan tradition--passionate, profoundly faithful and plainspoken. |
| the divine image analysis: Tyger Adrian Mitchell, 1971 A celebration of the life and works of William Blake. |
| the divine image analysis: Educating in the Divine Image Chaya Rosenfeld Gorsetman, Elana Maryles Sztokman, 2013-10-01 Although recent scholarship has examined gender issues in Judaism with regard to texts, rituals, and the rabbinate, there has been no full-length examination of the education of Jewish children in day schools. Drawing on studies in education, social science, and psychology, as well as personal interviews, the authors show how traditional (mainly Orthodox) day school education continues to re-inscribe gender inequities and socialize students into unhealthy gender identities and relationships. They address pedagogy, school practices, curricula, and textbooks, as along with single-sex versus coed schooling, dress codes, sex education, Jewish rituals, and gender hierarchies in educational leadership. Drawing a stark picture of the many ways both girls and boys are molded into gender identities, the authors offer concrete resources and suggestions for transforming educational practice. |
| the divine image analysis: Augustine and Kierkegaard Kim Paffenroth, John Doody, Helene Tallon Russell, 2017-09-20 This volume is a continuation of our series exploring Saint Augustine’s influence on later thought, this time bringing the fifth century bishop into dialogue with 19th century philosopher, theologian, social critic, and originator of Existentialism, Soren Kierkegaard. The connections, contrasts, and sometimes surprising similarities of their thought are uncovered and analyzed in topics such as exile and pilgrimage, time and restlessness, inwardness and the church, as well as suffering, evil, and humility. The implications of this analysis are profound and far-reaching for theology, ecclesiology, and ethics. |
| the divine image analysis: Making Sense of the Divine Name in the Book of Exodus Austin Surls, 2017-05-01 The obvious riddles and difficulties in Exod 3:13–15 and Exod 6:2–8 have attracted an overwhelming amount of attention and comment. These texts make important theological statements about the divine name YHWH and the contours of the divine character. From the enigmatic statements in Exod 3:13–15, most scholars reconstruct the original form of the name as “Yahweh,” which is thought to describe YHWH’s creative power or self-existence. Similarly, Exod 6:3 has become a classic proof-text for the Documentary Hypothesis and an indication of different aspects of God’s character as shown in history. Despite their seeming importance for “defining” the divine name, these texts are ancillary to and preparatory for the true revelation of the divine name in the book of Exodus. This book attempts to move beyond atomistic readings of individual texts and etymological studies of the divine name toward a holistic reading of the book of Exodus. Surls centers his argument around in-depth analyses of Exod 3:13–15, 6:2–8 and Exod 33:12–23 and 34:5–8. Consequently, the definitive proclamation of YHWH’s character is not given at the burning bush but in response to Moses’ later intercession (Exod 33:12–23). YHWH proclaimed his name in a formulaic manner that Israel could appropriate (Exod 34:6–7), and the Hebrew Bible quotes or alludes to this text in many genres. This demonstrates the centrality of Exod 34:6–7 to Old Testament Theology. The character of God cannot be discerned from an etymological analysis of the word yhwh but from a close study of YHWH’s deliberate ascriptions made progressively in the book of Exodus. |
| the divine image analysis: The Materiality of Divine Agency Beate Pongratz-Leisten, Karen Sonik, 2015-10-16 Two topics of current critical interest, agency and materiality, are here explored in the context of their intersection with the divine. Specific case studies, emphasizing the ancient Near East but including treatments also of the European Middle Ages and ancient Greece, elucidate the nature and implications of this intersection: What is the relationship between the divine and the particular matter or physical form in which it is materially represented or mentally visualized? How do sacral or divine things act, and what is the source and nature of their agency? How might we productively define and think about anthropomorphism in relation to the divine? What is the relationship between the mental and the material image, and between the categories of object and image, image and likeness, and likeness and representation? Drawing on a broad range of written and pictorial sources, this volume is a novel contribution to the contemporary discourse on the functioning and communicative potential of the material and materialized divine as it is developing in the fields of anthropology, art history, and the history and cognitive science of religion. |
| the divine image analysis: Developing Animal Theology Clair Linzey, 2021-10-27 This book offers an up-to-date examination of the nature and development of animal theology. It considers what animal theology is and how it challenges, and is challenged by, liberation and ecological theology. At the heart of the work is a critical engagement with the Brazilian ecotheologian Leonardo Boff. Clair Linzey addresses ideas that originate from the papal encyclical Laudato Si’ and considers how Pope Francis is developing an animal friendly tradition within Catholicism. Exploring new vistas in animal theology, this volume makes a valuable to contribution to debates on how religion should be concerned with animals and the environment. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to know the current state of debate with animal theology and its effects on the wider Christian community. |
| the divine image analysis: Thomas Aquinas John Inglis, 2017-05-15 This volume contains the seminal articles that define the influence of Aquinas within legal philosophical thought. A comprehensive reference for those new to the field, it covers such topics as the relation of virtue to law, the common good, natural law, natural rights and property rights; together with social and political issues like abortion, feminism, homosexuality, environment, civil disobedience and just war. Attention is devoted to the new natural law theory and its limitations, as well as the place of historical context in the recovery of social thought. |
| the divine image analysis: The Book of Divine Works St. Hildegard of Bingen, 2018-10-16 Completed in 1173, The Book of Divine Works (Liber Divinorum Operum) is the culmination of the Visionary’s Doctor’s theological project, offered here for the first time in a complete and scholarly English translation. The first part explores the intricate physical and spiritual relationships between the cosmos and the human person, with the famous image of the universal Man standing astride the cosmic spheres. The second part examines the rewards for virtue and the punishments for vice, mapped onto a geography of purgatory, hellmouth, and the road to the heavenly city. At the end of each Hildegard writes extensive commentaries on the Prologue to John’s Gospel (Part 1) and the first chapter of Genesis (Part 2)—the only premodern woman to have done so. Finally, the third part tells the history of salvation, imagined as the City of God standing next to the mountain of God’s foreknowledge, with Divine Love reigning over all. |
| the divine image analysis: Three Treatises on the Divine Images Saint John (of Damascus), 2003 In AD 726, the Byzantine emperor ordered the destruction of all icons, or religious images, throughout the empire, and icons were subject to an imperial ban that was to last, with a brief remission, until AD 843. A defender of icons, St John of Damascus wrote three treatises against those who attack the holy images. He differentiates between the veneration of icons, which is a matter of expressing honor, and idolatry, which is offering worship to something other than God. |
| the divine image analysis: The Image of God in the Garden of Eden Catherine L. McDowell, 2015-09-02 Catherine McDowell presents a detailed and insightful analysis of the creation of adam in Gen 2:5–3:24 in light of the Mesopotamian mīs pî pīt pî (“washing of the mouth, opening of the mouth”) and the Egyptian wpt-r (opening of the mouth) rituals for the creation of a divine image. Parallels between the mouth washing and opening rituals and the Eden story suggest that the biblical author was comparing and contrasting human creation with the ritual creation, animation, and installation of a cult statue in order to redefine ṣelem ʾelohîm as a human being—the living likeness of God tending and serving in the sacred garden. McDowell also considers the explicit image and likeness language in Gen 1:26–27. Drawing from biblical and extrabiblical texts, she demonstrates that ṣelem and demût define the divine-human relationship, first and foremost, in terms of kinship. To be created in the image and likeness of Elohim was to be, metaphorically speaking, God’s royal sons and daughters. While these royal qualities are explicit in Gen 1, McDowell persuasively argues that kinship is the primary metaphor Gen 1 uses to define humanity and its relationship to God. Further, she discusses critical issues, noting the problems inherent in the traditional views on the dating and authorship of Gen 1–3, and the relationship between the two creation accounts. Through a careful study of the tôledôt in Genesis, she demonstrates that Gen 2:4 serves as both a hinge and a “telescope”: the creation of humanity in Gen 2:5–3:24 should be understood as a detailed account of the events of Day 6 in Gen 1. When Gen 1–3 are read together, as the final redactor intended, these texts redefine the divine-human relationship using three significant and theologically laden categories: kinship, kingship, and cult. Thus, they provide an important lens through which to view the relationship between God and humanity as presented in the rest of the Bible. |
| the divine image analysis: Feminist Mysticism and Images of God Jennie S Knight, 2011-02-28 Feminist theologians often claim that women's experience is their starting point. However, most feminist theology is remarkably void of analysis of particular women's experiences of imaging God. In this book, Knight provides practical recommendations to help people transform images in the context of religious practices. What difference does it make whether we picture God as an elderly white grandfather, a nurturing African American mother, or a stranger on the bus? Jennie Knight says our image of God affects how we see ourselves, how we worship, how we treat one another, how (or whether) we work for justice, and a host of other life practices. But after years of knowing intellectually that God transcends a specific human type, Knight still struggles to make an emotional connection with God in different forms. She suspects that that struggle is why many seminarians who wrote papers about thea/theology abandon nontraditional God images once they hit parish ministry, perpetuating the practice of seeing God as a European male on a throne and all the accompanying problems that such imagery creates. Knight believes that personal and critical reflection in the context of a supportive learning community, combined with experiences of diverse images for the divine in worship, can lead to profound changes in self-image, relationship with the divine, and agency in the world. This book aims to demonstrate why and how this transformation is both possible and necessary. The popularity of The Shack, The Secret Life of Bees, Joan of Arcadia, and other works with nontraditional God-figures reveals a culture ready to embrace God in many forms. Knight examines how the church can do the same. |
| the divine image analysis: Divine Likeness Marc Ouellet, 2006-06-15 Marked by growing freedom and equality, today's families are also dogged by brokenness and loss of faith. And while the theology of marriage has developed remarkably under the impetus of the Second Vatican Council and Pope John Paul II, the theology of the family remains in its infancy, only beginning to meet the challenges of contemporary society. In Divine Likeness Marc Cardinal Ouellet points the way to a much-needed theology of the family grounded in the doctrine of the Trinity. Cardinal Ouellet understands family life to be a sacrament of Trinitarian communion, a crucial source for revealing and inspiring a new sense of God's presence in the faith community. This book will help theologians, pastors, and believers to develop fruitfully the legacy of Pope John Paul II, carrying forward the quest to let the Trinity and the family illuminate each other for the good of today's world. |
| the divine image analysis: Divine Images and Human Imaginations in Ancient Greece and Rome , 2015-08-27 The polytheistic religious systems of ancient Greece and Rome reveal an imaginative attitude towards the construction of the divine. One of the most important instruments in this process was certainly the visualisation. Images of the gods transformed the divine world into a visually experienceable entity, comprehensible even without a theoretical or theological superstructure. For the illiterates, images were together with oral traditions and rituals the only possibility to approach the idea of the divine; for the intellectuals, images of the gods could be allegorically transcended symbols to reflect upon. Based on the art historical and textual evidence, this volume offers a fresh view on the historical, literary, and artistic significance of divine images as powerful visual media of religious and intellectual communication. |
| the divine image analysis: Jerusalem (Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake) William Blake, 2013-08-20 This carefully crafted ebook: Jerusalem (Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake) is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. The poem was inspired by the apocryphal story that a young Jesus, accompanied by his uncle Joseph of Arimathea, a tin merchant, travelled to what is now England and visited Glastonbury during the unknown years of Jesus. The legend is linked to an idea in the Book of Revelation describing a Second Coming, wherein Jesus establishes a new Jerusalem. The Christian Church in general, and the English Church in particular, has long used Jerusalem as a metaphor for Heaven, a place of universal love and peace. In the most common interpretation of the poem, Blake implies that a visit by Jesus would briefly create heaven in England, in contrast to the dark Satanic Mills of the Industrial Revolution. Blake's poem asks questions rather than asserting the historical truth of Christ's visit. Thus the poem merely implies that there may, or may not, have been a divine visit, when there was briefly heaven in England. William Blake (1757 – 1827) was a British poet, painter, visionary mystic, and engraver, who illustrated and printed his own books. Blake proclaimed the supremacy of the imagination over the rationalism and materialism of the 18th-century. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. |
| the divine image analysis: The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Ancient Israel Susan Niditch, 2016-01-26 The Companion to Ancient Israel offers an innovative overview of ancient Israelite culture and history, richly informed by a variety of approaches and fields. Distinguished scholars provide original contributions that explore the tradition in all its complexity, multiplicity and diversity. A methodologically sophisticated overview of ancient Israelite culture that provides insights into political and social history, culture, and methodology Explores what we can say about the cultures and history of the people of Israel and Judah, but also investigates how we know what we know Presents fresh insights, richly informed by a variety of approaches and fields Delves into ‘religion as lived,’ an approach that asks about the everyday lives of ordinary people and the material cultures that they construct and experience Each essay is an original contribution to the subject |
| the divine image analysis: The Divine Image Keith Ward, 1976 |
| the divine image analysis: The New Testament and Bioethics R. Dennis Macaleer, 2014-01-01 Beauchamp and Childress's Principles of Biomedical Ethics is a well-accepted approach to contemporary bioethics. Those principles are based on what Beauchamp and Childress call the common morality. This book employs New Testament theological themes to enhance the meaning of those principles of bioethics. The primary New Testament text for this study is the twin commands from Jesus to love God and love one's neighbor. The three theological themes developed from this study--the image of God, the covenant, and the pursuit of healing--are deeply embedded in the New Testament and in the ministry of Jesus. Three contemporary bioethics principles are used for this dissertation, based on The Belmont Report. They are the principles of respect for persons, justice, and beneficence. In each case, the theological themes are shown to enhance the meaning of these bioethics principles. Each of the three principles, as understood through the three theological themes, is applied to a current bioethics issue to demonstrate the efficacy of this approach. The three current issues addressed are the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment, the distribution of health care in the Untied States, and the use of palliative care. |
| the divine image analysis: Object and Apparition Maya Stanfield-Mazzi, 2013-09-26 Based on thorough archival research combined with stunning visual analysis, Maya Stanfield-Mazzi demonstrates that Andeans were active agents in Catholic image-making and created a particularly Andean version of Catholicism. Object and Apparition describes the unique features of Andean Catholicism while illustrating its connections to both Spanish and Andean cultural traditions--Provided by publisher. |
| the divine image analysis: Toward a Theology of Scientific Endeavour Professor Christopher B Kaiser, 2013-05-28 Foundations of science are specific conditions of the cosmos, of human intelligence, of cultural beliefs, and of technological structures that make the pursuit of modern science possible. Each of the four foundations of scientific endeavour can be studied as a topic on its own. The concurrent study of all four together reveals several tensions and interconnections among them that point the way to a greater unification of faith and science. This book explores four foundations of scientific endeavour and investigates some of the paradoxes each of them raises. Kaiser shows that the resolution of these paradoxes inevitably leads us into theological discourse and raises new challenges for theological endeavour. In order to address these challenges, Kaiser draws on the wider resources of the Judeo-Christian tradition and argues for a refocusing of contemporary theology from the perspective of natural science. |
| the divine image analysis: God's Wounds: Hermeneutic of the Christian Symbol of Divine Suffering, Volume One Jeff B. Pool, 2009-01-01 This book constitutes the first volume of a three-volume study of Christian testimonies to divine suffering: God's Wounds: Hermeneutic of the Christian Symbol of Divine Suffering, Divine Vulnerability and Creation. This study first develops an approach to interpreting the contested claims about the suffering of God. Thus, the larger study focuses its inquiry into the testimonies to divine suffering themselves, seeking to allow the voices that attest to divine suffering to speak freely, to discover and elucidate the internal logic or rationality of this family of testimonies, rather than defending these attestations against the dominant claims of classical Christian theism that have historically sought to eliminate such language altogether from Christian discourse about the nature and life of God. Through this approach this volume of studies into the Christian symbol of divine suffering then investigates the two major presuppositions that the larger family of testimonies to divine suffering normally hold: an understanding of God through the primary metaphor of love (God is love); and an understanding of the human as created in the image of God, with a life (though finite) analogous to the divine life--the imago Dei as love. When fully elaborated, these presuppositions reveal the conditions of possibility for divine suffering and divine vulnerability with respect to creation. |
| the divine image analysis: Divine Animal BRANDON. WINT, 2020-09-13 Divine Animal is the debut poetry book by celebrated, Ontario-born poet and spoken word performer Brandon Wint. The collection is an elegant, expansive mapping of Brandon Wint's relationship to the legacy and wake of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, as one of its living, Black descendants. The Atlantic ocean is figured as both a historical site and diasporic metaphor from which to explore the complex journeys and negotiations that brought his family to Canada from Jamaica and Barbados. Divine Animal reckons with the ways the logic of colonialism has brought humankind into an era of ecological devastation, climate change catastrophe and eco-grief. In this way, Brandon Wint offers a thoughtful, empathetic poetics that seeks to re-connect the human world with the natural world. Above all, Divine Animal is a work that lives powerfully at the intersection of celebration and grief. These poems testify to the realities of beauty on Earth, while casting a necessary eye upon the human proclivity to invent sophisticated, resilient modes of violence and inequity. |
| the divine image analysis: Bild-ing a Memory Model of God Kwang-Jin Oh, 2024-05-03 Have you ever wondered what the image of God means theologically? Mountains of material have been written about this topic, spanning ages, but is it just an idea or is it something physically real? This book answers those questions through ancient, modern, and scientific theories of memory in a Wesleyan anthropology. Bild-ing a Memory Model of God is a unique attempt at combining the fields of theology and neuroscience. |
| the divine image analysis: The Lamb William Blake, Jr., 2008-09-01 The English poet William Blake left a body of poetry rich in imagery and thought as reflected in this introspective anthem. The thought-provoking text inspires one to see the love of Gods Lamb for His children who are subsequently His little lambs. Lovely melodic lines and counter-melodies add to the intrigue and charm of this choral setting. |
| the divine image analysis: The poems of William Blake [ed. by R.H. Shepherd]. William Blake, 1874 |
| the divine image analysis: The Image of God in the Theology of Gregory of Nazianzus Gabrielle Thomas, 2019-06-06 Provides the first full-length analysis of Gregory Nazianzen's multifaceted account of the image of God against the backdrop of biblical themes. |
| the divine image analysis: Consumer Behaviour Jim Blythe, 2013-03-26 Electronic Inspection Copy available for instructors here Why do you choose the things you buy – such as this textbook, a smartphone or an item of clothing? How often, where, and instead of what? What do you consider a boring necessity or a fun luxury? What do you do with products once you’ve purchased them? When do you decide to chuck them and why? As a consumer you make conscious and unconscious decisions, nonstop, every day of your life. This is Consumer Behaviour! This friendly, lively full colour text will support you through your course and help you to get the best possible grade for future employment. It even has How to Impress Your Examiner boxes in each chapter. There are lots of case studies along the way from global brands such as Facebook, Apple and Amazon Kindle, and Consumer Behaviour in Action boxes in every chapter to show you how it works in the real world. If you want to be top of the class you can push yourself that little bit further by reading the Challenging the Status Quo asides which will help your critical thinking and problem solving skills. These are key skills that employers look for in graduates, so practicing now will help set you apart from the pack and boost your employability. You could also dip into the Further Reading resources to help you with essays and exam revision – using these is a sure route to better grades. Visit the companion website www.sagepub.co.uk/blythe for extra materials including multiple choice questions to test yourself and Jim’s pick of Youtube videos that make the examples in each chapter come alive! |
| the divine image analysis: Revelations of Divine Love Julian of Norwich, 2019-11-13 The fourteenth-century anchorite known as Julian of Norwich offered fervent prayers for a deeper understanding of Christ's passion. The holy woman's petitions were answered with a series of divine revelations that she called shewings. Her mystic visions revealed Christ's sufferings with extreme intensity, but they also confirmed God's constant love for humanity and infinite capacity for forgiveness. Julian of Norwich's Revelations of Divine Love have had a lasting influence on Christian thought. Written in immediate, compelling terms, her experiences remain among the most original and accessible expressions of medieval mysticism. This edition contains both the short text, which is mainly an account of the shewings and Julian's initial analysis of their meaning, and the long text, completed some 20 years later and offering daringly speculative interpretations. |
| the divine image analysis: Forming God Anne K. Knafl, 2014-10-23 This volume examines divine anthropomorphism in the Hebrew Bible, a study characterized by disagreement and contradiction. Discussions of anthropomorphism in the Hebrew Bible are typically found in three areas of inquiry: ancient Israelite religion, as reflected by the compositions of the Pentateuch; comparisons with ancient Near Eastern religions; and comparison with ancient translation and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible. Contradictory arguments exist, both within each area of study and between them, about the intent of biblical writers, with respect to a theology of anthropomorphism. In this work, Knafl asserts that biblical studies has reached this impasse, largely due to its approach to the study of the phenomenon. The prevailing method has been to study divine anthropomorphism within an assumed framework of polemic and by associating it with a theological system. By contrast, Knafl analyzes divine anthropomorphism as a literary-contextual phenomenon and seeks to build a typology, from which secondary arguments regarding theology or history of religion may be built. This typology will provide scholars of biblical studies, history of religion, and (systematic) theology with a means of evaluating divine anthropomorphisms and their relation to human-divine interactions, as a biblical phenomenon. |
| the divine image analysis: Unification Insights into Marriage and Family: The Writings of Dietrich F. Seidel Jennifer P. Tanabe, Dietrich F. Seidel, 2016-12-09 A collection of the writings of Dr. Dietrich F. Seidel, compiled and edited by Dr. Jennifer P. Tanabe. Dietrich Seidel was born in Austria during World War II and trained as a scientist in Vienna. Raised Catholic he later converted to Unificationism and never lost his faith in God, a faith which guided his life and illuminates his work. This selection reflects Dr. Seidel's ability to unify and harmonize even those apparently at odds, such as science and religion and his specialty-married couples in need of counseling. In his writings on marriage and family enrichment readers will find practical advice on improving their relationship with their spouse, child rearing, making God central to their family and finding true love, all presented in an enjoyable and easy to read style. Other articles show a more scholarly form and topic, such as human nature and the love of God. Reflective pieces on his experiences as a Unificationist are also included in this collection. |
| the divine image analysis: The Symposium Saint Methodius (of Olympus), 1958 The Symposium, or Banquet, is a dialogue in imitation of Plato, written by Methodius, a teacher and probably a bishop, who flourished in Lycia during the period known as the Little Peace of the Church. It is perhaps the most beautiful symbolic prose-poem of the early patristic period. |
| the divine image analysis: Revelation, Redemption, and Response Philip Walker Butin, 1995 In this fresh consideration of Calvin's Christian vision, however, Philip Butin demonstrates Calvin's consistent and pervasive appeal to the Trinity as the basis, pattern, and dynamic of God's relationship with humanity. |
| the divine image analysis: The Divine Romance Gene Edwards, 1993 From the grandeur of Creation to the glorious union of the Savior and his bride, God's love sweeps through eternity in the greatest of all love stories. A book of power, beauty, and grandeur. Rarely has a piece of Christian literature combined the simplicity of the storytelling art with the profound depths of the Christian faith. |
| the divine image analysis: Image, Identity, and the Forming of the Augustinian Soul Matthew Drever, 2013-07-18 Through examination of Augustine's account of the human relation to God, Matthew Drever finds a crucial resource for a religious reorientation and revaluation of the human person, |
| the divine image analysis: Embodiment of Divine Knowledge in Early Judaism Andrei A. Orlov, 2021-11-11 This book explores the early Jewish understanding of divine knowledge as divine presence, which is embodied in major biblical exemplars, such as Adam, Enoch, Jacob, and Moses. The study treats the concept of divine knowledge as the embodied divine presence in its full historical and interpretive complexity by tracing the theme through a broad variety of ancient Near Eastern and Jewish sources, including Mesopotamian traditions of cultic statues, creational narratives of the Hebrew Bible, and later Jewish mystical testimonies. Orlov demonstrates that some biblical and pseudepigraphical accounts postulate that the theophany expresses the unique, corporeal nature of the deity that cannot be fully grasped or conveyed in some other non-corporeal symbolism, medium, or language. The divine presence requires another presence in order to be transmitted. To be communicated properly and in its full measure, the divine iconic knowledge must be written on a new living body which can hold the ineffable presence of God through a newly acquired ontology. Embodiment of Divine Knowledge in Early Judaism will provide an invaluable research to students and scholars in a wide range of areas within Jewish, Near Eastern, and Biblical Studies, as well as those studying religious elements of anthropology, philosophy, sociology, psychology, and gender studies. Through the study of Jewish mediatorial figures, this book also elucidates the roots of early Christological developments, making it attractive to Christian audiences. |
| the divine image analysis: Songs of Innocence William Blake, 1971-01-01 Blake's original color plates are faithfully reproduced in this illuminated edition of his early poems |
