Deification and Theological Anthropology

Abstract Accounts of deification presuppose an anthropology, an account of what humans are such that they can be deified. This chapter surveys such anthropologies. It begins with anthropologies that account for deification through particular powers and activities, focusing on accounts within the Augustinian-Thomistic tradition, which emphasize the role of spiritual powers like intellect and will in deification. It next turns to anthropologies focused on the nature of activity as such, with special attention to the Greek tradition. This section discusses the role of the body, rest, and creativity in deification. Finally, the chapter considers anthropologies that focus on substantiality or personhood as such, and contends that only such an anthropology adequately accounts for the possibility of deification. This section discusses the role of relationality and communal nature in deification, as well as surveying (and arguing against) views on which humans have the same nature or personhood as God.