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→Replies to Orthodoxy4everr: typo: theois > theosis
Your definition of theosis (above), though acceptable, is incomplete, and, I am afraid, contradicts what Pope Shenouda III wrote and said many times about the subject. It is part of the latest 'Official Church' propaganda these days to calm down the ongoing scandals within the Coptic Church, which have reached unprecendented levels during recent months (after the departure of the blessed Fr Matta El-Meskeen in June 2006), and have become a popular subject in the secular, mainstream Egyptian and Arabic newsmedia.
My question to you, dear brother in Christ: Have you read and listened ''yourself'' to what Pope Shenouda wrote and said concerning theosis? Did you, for example, listen to his recent weekly, Tuesday lectures in Arabic to Coptic seminarians in Cairo about the subject (delivered in 2007 and all published at copticpope.org)? Pope Shenouda said (and I am here translating what he said word-by-word) that 'even the word/term theosis is not acceptable, even when the claimed status of theosis is said to be reached through God's Grace'. Can you point us to any ''properly referenced'' excerpts from Pope Shenouda's writings or recorded lectures that we can access that mention what you are saying above about theoistheosis?! Have you also read any of his "opponents'" writings about theosis? Did they ever say that theosis makes us gods, in the sense that we become fully equivalent to God almighty?! I can assure you that Fr Matta El-Meskeen, for one, has never made such a claim in any of his writings or sermons. However, it has sadly become the Coptic Church's habit these days to fabricate and falsify (and hide) "evidence" against those she doesn't like (like a 'police state'). They even confiscated copies of an Arabic translation of 'On the Incarnation of the Word' (Athanasius) translated by the Very Rev Fr Markos Dawood, because it mentioned theosis in Chapter 54, Part 3, Pg. 159 - "God became man so that man could become god" (see details at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/39235 ), which contradicts what the Pope said that 'it is impossible that any of the Fathers could have ever mentioned theosis' (again, translating here what he said word-by-word) - "محال ان يكون احد الآباء نادى بذلك". And how could anyone (even if this is St Athanasius the Great) dare to contradict the Pope, who has now become infallible in the Coptic Church, chosen and installed by God and only speaking God's messages (so, in other words, if you are in disagreement with the Pope, you are automatically against God and will fall under God's wrath, as they say). If you can read Arabic, please refer to the following site for a detailed discussion of Pope Shenouda's position regarding theosis: http://au.geocities.com/coptic_truth01/theosis.htm
We can also give you a long list of concrete examples, properly attributed excerpts, and evidence from both sides of the arguments (not taken out of their context, and without twisting the truth/text to suit our ends like others do). Please also read these Arabic articles about theosis: Metropolitan George Khodr of Mount Lebanon (Eastern Orthodox) Easter sermon this year (April 2007), which includes an exegesis on theosis http://www.elaph.com/ElaphWeb/NewsPapers/2007/4/224311.htm (caution: Anba Bishoy doesn't like Met. George Khodr and he mentioned this in his recorded talks!) - and also http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/message/38899 (written by Dr Joseph Faltas), and, if you are interested, please join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible - we have been debating these issues for a long time, and have many prominent active members/theologians like Dr Joseph M Faltas (and even many Coptic bishops and priests on board).