Theosis and Deification

Kwaku shares wonderful insight on how God came to be and how that relates to what some prominent atheists posit today.

Some atheists propose, when pushed, that life possibly was seeded here by an advanced extra-terrestrial.

Jeff at Latter-day Saints Q & A:

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Short podcast from a review of Andrew Skinner’s new book:

A Compelling Case for Theosis

Abstract: What is theosis? Why does the doctrine of theosis matter? Why did God become man so that man might become God? In his book To Become Like God, Andrew C. Skinner answers these questions with compelling clarity. He provides ample convincing evidence that, far from being a deviation from original Christian beliefs, the doctrine of theosis, or the belief that human beings have the potential to become like God, is central to the Christian faith.

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Brilliant insight (as usual) from Blake Ostler:

Topics Discussed:   Arguments That Essential Divine Properties Cannot Be Shared with Humans

– Can a Fulness of Divine Power Be Shared?

– Can Divine Sovereignty Be Shared By Humans?

– Are Deified Humans Worthy of Divine Worship?

Latter-day Saints have a unique theology.  We believe our Heavenly Father and his Son are separate beings and that they have exalted bodies.  We believe we can be like them.

This notion of becoming like God is not new.  It’s biblical.

http://www.ldsperspectives.com/2017/11/08/becoming-like-god-terryl-givens/

One can read a lengthy paper on the topic:   Defenders of the Doctrine of Deification.

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In this Maxwell Institute podcast below, Powell talks about his book, “Irenaeus, Joseph Smith, and God-Making Heresy.”

The idea that humans can become gods appeared in a setting of extreme opposition both for early Mormons like Joseph Smith, and early Christian leaders like Iranaeus.

The principles associated with theosis presented by Jordan Watkins:

Non-Mormon, Margaret Barker, spoke in 2016.  Among many other points, Margaret shared that the Deuteronomist editors removed references to the a human-form Heavenly Father visiting Old Testament prophets (after 26:00).

After the first hour, three LDS scholars shared their own insights:

Valuable insights about Solomon’s Temple:

Roger Cook discusses theosis below:

Brett McDonald presents below:

Latter-day Saints believe we are more than creatures.  “Ye are Gods” is found in John 10:34 and Psalm 82:6.

Part ii:

Hugh Nibley connected Egyptian rituals with LDS temple rites and ceremonies.

Deification discussion:

Debate between evangelical James White and two LDS apologists: Van Hale and Tanner Martin.

Deification in a Mesoamerican mindset:

Gods and Councils: El (the Father), Jehovah or Yahweh or YHWH (Son), & additional deities

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Brant Gardner discusses the Father God, El; the mother God or spouse of El, Asherah; Jehovah, the preeminent among the Sons of El; and other topics in the development of gods in Judaism.
 
The Sons of God were assigned to different nations.  Jehovah was assigned to Israel.  By the 8th and 7th centuries BC Jehovah grew in stature, supplanting El in certain respects, as the Jews developed a proto-monotheism.

 

A FARMS review from 2004:   The Deuteronomist De-Christianizing of the Old
Testament.

From a FARM’s review:  Of Simplicity, Oversimplification, and Monotheism.  Barry Brickmore explains LDS concepts about the Godhead that are misrepresented by evangelical author Owens in his book, “New Mormon Challenge.”

Please read or listen to Stephen Smooth on this topic:  The Divine Council in the Hebrew Bible and the Book of Mormon.

Joseph Smith revealed the Divine Council when he translated the Book of Abraham.  Scholars also now understand the Old Testament to teach about the Divine Council.

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Great interview by Laura Hales from LDS Perspectives Podcasts:

Episode 42: The Divine Council with Stephen Smoot

Non-Mormon,  Dr.  Mattei writes about El (Father) being worshipped before Yahweh in this post #27:   Are Yahweh and El the same god OR different gods?

Summary: Mattei argues that El (Almighty God) and Yahweh (Son) are distinct.

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Dr. Michael Heiser, a prominent traditional (and Trinitarian) Christian , shares many insights LDS folks agree with.

“The term divine council is used by Hebrew and Semitics scholars to refer to the heavenly host, the pantheon of divine beings who administer the affairs of the cosmos. All ancient Mediterranean cultures had some conception of a divine council. The divine council of Israelite religion, known primarily through the psalms, was distinct in important ways.”

 

David Bokovoy, an LDS expert on divine councils, engaged with Michael Heiser on this topic.  Heiser wrote a critique of Mormonism’s use of Psalm 82.  Then David explained our position.  Heiser finished the dialogue.  Very awesome to have this type of dialogue.

David Bokovoy’s view on divine councils, El, and Yahweh:

 

Prof. William G. Dever is a world-renowned archaeologist on ancient Israel:

 

These 3 Mormon guys are fun,  and also bring solid content.

Mark Smith is a foremost scholar in this area of Judaism’s early polytheism and eventual monotheism.  Concepts of multiplicity of Gods in a council structure is recognized by all Biblical scholars today.

El was present in the early tradition and texts as a separate most-high God.    Later,  however, as the Jews returned from the exile and the OT was canonized, Jehovah appears to assume the characteristics of El.  That is, Judaism thus became monotheistic.

Smith explains — in his book “Jehovah and the Other Deities in Ancient Israel” — that in early Jewish history, Jehovah was Israel’s God fully distinct from El (the Father).  In Deuteronomy 32 : 8-9 Jehovah was cast as one of the sons of El.  Each diety received its own nation in Deuteronomy 32.  Yahweh was given Israel.

 

 

Michael Ash explains the role the Deutoronomists played in reforming Judaism into something more monotheistic.  Additionally, prior to the Babylonian Captivity, Asherah (a Heavenly Mother figure) had been worshipped in the Temple for centuries.

Nephi’s vision of the Tree of Life includes a reference to the virgin Mary, the mother of the Son of God.  The Tree of Life in 1 Nephi dovetails with Mark E. Smith’s teachings about Asherah.

You may also want to review the slides (and watch below video) used by Robert Vukich in his debate:  Rejecting the False Doctrine of the Trinity.

Robert discusses the scriptural basis for more gods than Jehovah.  He also shows that God the Father (El) is completely separate from the Son, Jehovah.

 

Joseph Smith and the Recovery of Eternal Man

God is our father. More than an essence. He has a form and a body, though his influence is everywhere. God’s corporeality (having a body) was taught until the 4th and 5th centuries. We aren’t depraved creatures. We weren’t created out of nothing. Creedal statements about a triune deity were incorrect. These and other truths were restored. Joseph’s views are absolutely revolutionary when you consider what Christians believe(d).

“Joseph Smith returned modern Christianity to its origins.”