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Theology

Theosis

The Orthodox Christian doctrine of human divinization — becoming by grace what God is by nature, through union with God's uncreated energies.

Theosis (θέωσις) is the central goal of human existence in Eastern Orthodox theology. It does not mean becoming God in essence (which would be pantheism), but participating in God's divine life through His uncreated energies.

St. Athanasius summarized it: 'God became man so that man might become god.'

This concept is significant in Debby's framework because it represents the telos (ultimate purpose) that Orthodox Christianity claims for human life — and it is the framework through which Orthodox Christianity addresses questions about the meaning of existence, the nature of salvation, and the purpose of human consciousness.

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