Psilanthropism
Psilanthropism is an approach to Christology which understands Jesus to be a "mere human", and the literal son of human parents.[2][3] The term derives from the combination of the Greek ψίλος (psílos), "plain," "mere" or "bare," and ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos) "human." Psilanthropists generally deny both the virgin birth of Jesus, and his divinity.
Historical figures such as Nestorius were technically not psilanthropists because they still maintained a divine component in their Christology.[4] Samuel Taylor Coleridge was, however, an example of a psilanthropist.[5]
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[edit] Early psilanthropism
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The term is sometimes used to describe Ebionitism, which was rejected by the ecumenical councils, especially in the First Council of Nicaea, which was convened to deal directly with the nature of Christ's divinity.[6]
[edit] Medieval psilanthropism
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[edit] Modern psilanthropism
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An example of a modern psilanthropist is Uta Ranke-Heinemann who contends that the virgin birth of Jesus was meant—and should be understood—as an allegory of a special initiative of God, comparable to God's creation of Adam, and in line with legends and allegories of antiquity.[7]
Modern psilanthropists also include some members of the Unification Church. The church's textbook, the Divine Principle does not include the teaching that Zacharias was the father of Jesus, however according to Ruth Tucker some members of the church hold that belief based on the work of Leslie Weatherhead.[8][9][10][11]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The creed: the apostolic faith in contemporary theology by Berard L. Marthaler 2007 ISBN 0896225372 page 129
- ^ The Westminster handbook to patristic theology by John Anthony McGuckin 2004 ISBN 0664223966 page 286
- ^ Thinking of Christ: proclamation, explanation, meaning by Tatha Wiley 2003 ISBN 082641530X page 257
- ^ Grace and Christology in the Early Church by Donald Fairbairn 2006 ISBN 019929710X page 180
- ^ Coleridge "I was a psilanthropist, one of those who believe our Lord to have been the real son of Joseph." 1817 Biog. Lit. i 168, in Cyclopædia of Biblical, theological, and ecclesiastical literature, Volume 2 By John McClintock, James Strong 1894 p404
- ^ Angels and Principalities by A. Wesley Carr 2005 ISBN 0521018757 page 131
- ^ Ranke-Heinemann, Uta. Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven. Garden City: Doubleday, 1990. ISBN 0385265271.
- ^ Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups: A Handbook for Chaplains, By U. S. Department of the Army, Published by The Minerva Group, Inc., 2001, ISBN 0898756073, ISBN 9780898756074, page 1–42. Google books listing
- ^ Sontag, Fredrick (1977). Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church. Abingdon. pp. 102–105. ISBN 0687406226.
- ^ Weatherhead, L.D. (1965). The Christian Agnostic. England: Hodder and Stoughton. pp. 59–63. http://DLMcN.com/weatherhead.html.
- ^ Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement by Ruth A. Tucker 1989 ISBN 0310259371 pages 250-251
