Theomorphism
Encyclopedia
Theomorphism, from Greek
θεος, theos (God
) and μορφη, morphē (shape or form), refers to the bestowal of divine attributes on humanity
. The term literally means "God-shaped", corresponding to the Hebrew name Michael
. Islam
, Christianity
and Judaism
teach that "God created man in his own image" (KJV Genesis 1:27). Though the term is apparently a neologism, the idea of man being in "the image" of God is at least as old as Judaism and possibly much older. In a sense, it stands the idea of anthropomorphism
on its head by affirming that humanity did not create God in its own image, but the reverse. Some religious traditions hold that God is a literal physical being, and that mankind is literally created in his image; such traditions fully embrace the concept of theomorphism as a foundational concept.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
θεος, theos (God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
) and μορφη, morphē (shape or form), refers to the bestowal of divine attributes on humanity
Human Race
Human Race refers to the Human species.Human race may also refer to:*The Human Race, 79th episode of YuYu Hakusho* Human Race Theatre Company of Dayton Ohio* Human Race Machine, a computer graphics device...
. The term literally means "God-shaped", corresponding to the Hebrew name Michael
Michael
Michael is a given name that comes from the , derived from the Hebrew question מי כמו אלוהים? meaning "Who is like God?" In English, it is sometimes shortened to Mike, Mikey, or, especially in Ireland, Mick...
. Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
teach that "God created man in his own image" (KJV Genesis 1:27). Though the term is apparently a neologism, the idea of man being in "the image" of God is at least as old as Judaism and possibly much older. In a sense, it stands the idea of anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
on its head by affirming that humanity did not create God in its own image, but the reverse. Some religious traditions hold that God is a literal physical being, and that mankind is literally created in his image; such traditions fully embrace the concept of theomorphism as a foundational concept.