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{{cleanupspirituality}}'''Theosis''' ("deification," "divinization") is the process of a worshiper becoming free of ''hamartía'' ("missing the mark"), being united with God, beginning in this life and later consummated in bodily [[resurrection]]. For Orthodox Christians, Théōsis (see 2 Pet. 1:4) is salvation. Théōsis assumes that humans from the beginning are made to share in the Life or Nature of the all-[[Holy Trinity]]. Therefore, an infant or an adult worshiper is saved from the state of unholiness (''hamartía'' — which is not to be confused with ''hamártēma'' “sin”) for participation in the Life (''zōé'', not simply ''bíos'') of the Trinity — which is everlasting.

'''''Theosis''''', meaning '''''deification''''' or '''''divinization''''', This is the process of man becoming [[holy]] and being united not to be confused with God, beginning in this life and later consummated in the [[resurrection]]. heretical (apothéōsis) - "''TheosisDeification in God’s Essence'' is the content of salvation from sin", which is premised upon apostolic and early Christian understanding of the life of faith, and is conceptually foundational in both the east and the westimparticipable.

The statement by Through ''[[Saint|St.]] [[Athanasius of Alexandriatheoria]]'', "The Son the knowledge of God became manin Jesus Christ, that we might become God", indicates human beings come to know and experience what it means to be fully human (the concept beautifully. What would otherwise seem absurd, that fallen, sinful man may become holy as created image of God is holy, has been made possible ); through [[their communion with Jesus]] [[Christ]], who is God incarnate. Naturally, shares Himself with the crucial Christian assertionhuman race, in order to conform them to all that God is Onein knowledge, sets an absolute limit on the meaning of righteousness and holiness. ''theosisTheosis'' - it also asserts the complete restoration of all people (and of the entire creation), in principle. This is not possible for any created being to become, built upon the understanding of the [[atonement]] put forward by [[ontology|ontologicallyIrenaeus of Lyons]], God or even another godcalled "recapitulation. "

Through ''[[theoria]]'', the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ, human beings come to know and experience what it means to be fully human (the created image of God); through their communion with Jesus Christ God shares Himself with the human race, in order to conform them to all that God is in knowledge, righteousness and holiness. ''Theosis'' also asserts the complete restoration of all people (and of the entire creation), in principle. This is built upon the understanding of the [[atonement]] put forward by [[Irenaeus]], called "recapitulation".  For many fathers, ''theosis'' goes beyond simply restoring people to their state before the Fall of [[Adam ]] and [[Eve]], teaching that because Christ united the human and divine natures in his person, it is now possible for someone to experience closer fellowship with God than Adam and Eve initially experienced in the Garden of Eden, and that people can become more like God than Adam and Eve were at that time. Some Orthodox theologians go so far as to say that Jesus would have become [[Incarnation|incarnate]] for this reason alone, even if Adam and Eve had never sinned.

=== Union with God, east and west Some Protestant use of the term "theosis"=== In western Catholic theology, addition to the strong currents of ''theosis'' refers to a specific in early and rather advanced phase of contemplation of God. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10663b.htm] The process of arriving to such a statesome contemporary Catholic theology, or moving toward one can find it (as arrival there is not necessary for [[salvation]]), involves different types of prayer which are recognized as beneficial. Various stages of prayer life are recognized as being likely to occur should a person respond to faith by moving along the purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways. See [[ascetical theology]].  Some western writers refer to theosis using the same implications given above recurring theme within Anglicanism: in Lancelot Andrewes (e.g17th c., [http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZ184.HTM], [http://www.kensmen.com/catholic/purgatory.html]). It is common to find western writings that suggest that eastern spirituality manifests ''theosis'' and that by implication the west is lacking in this regard, but this is a case of rhetoric obscuring fact: under different terminology the western spiritual traditions, which also reach to the origins hymnody of Christianity John and Charles Wesley (in the East18th c.), share the objective of sharing in the life of GodEdward B. Pusey (19th c. It is also necessary to recall that in the west there is a problematic form of ''[[ecumenism]]'' in vogue), in which people are quick to deny their own truths in order to appear to exalt the ''other''. Some Catholic writers consider it lamentable that the term ''theosis'' is not used more extensively in western theologyand A. [http://wwwM.kensmenAllchin and E.com/catholic/solafideCharles Miller (20th c.html] It is, therefore, a mistake to attribute to Eastern Orthodoxy a special insight into the existence of the possibility of union with God: the theological difference between east and west is rhetorical. Whether or not eastern liturgies are more conducive to ''theosis'' is another matter; in the west there has been much discussion of the merits of the [[Novus Ordo Missae]]). The [[Tridentine Mass]] is available in hundreds Finnish school of locations and is very much conducive, if for some faithful the Novus Ordo is not, to the kind of prayer life Lutheranism led by Tuomo Mannermaa argues that leads one along toward Martin Luther''theosis''. Virtually all spiritual books of any consequence published in the west manifest overt awareness of all the issues comprised in s understood justification to mean ''theosis'' (some books may focus on specific stages and treat unitive themes more briefly). ===Protestant use of the term "theosis"===

''Theosis'' as a concept is used among [[Methodist]]s Methodists [http://www.frimmin.com/faith/theosis.html] especially in relation to the [[pietism|pietist]] movement and in the distinctive [[Protestant]] doctrine of ''entire sanctification'' which teaches, in summary, that it is the Christian's goal, in principle possible to achieve, to live without any [[sin]]. In [[1311]] the [[Council of Vienne]] declared this notion, "that man in this present life can acquire so great and such a degree of perfection that he will be rendered inwardly sinless, and that he will not be able to advance farther in [[grace]]" (Denziger §471), to be a [[heresy]]. Instead of theosis, '''sanctification''', being set apart or made holy, is the term that is used more in Protestant theology. Specifically, ''progressive sanctification'' is the term that is used for the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, whereby an individual is made more holy.

===Deification in [[Mormonism]]===The doctrine of theosis or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exaltation_%28Mormonism%29 deification] in [[Mormonism|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] differs significantly from the '''theosis''' of Orthodox Christianity. In Mormonism it is usually referred to as ''exaltation'' or ''eternal life''. While the primary focus of Mormonism is on the atonement of Jesus Christ, the reason for the atonement is exaltation which goes beyond mere [[salvation]]. All men will be saved from sin and [[death]], but only those who are sufficiently [[obedient]] and accept the atonement of Jesus Christ before the [[judgment]] will be exalted. One popular Mormon quote, coined by the early Mormon "disciple" Lorenzo Snow in 1837, is "As man now is, God once was; As God now is, man may be."[http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/basic/godhead/farms_man.htm] The teaching was taught first by Joseph Smith while pointing to John 5:19 of the New Testament, "God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 345-46).

The doctrine In the Mormon Book of theosis or deification in Moses 1:39 God tells [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsMoses]] differs significantly from , "this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the '''theosis''' immortality and eternal life of Orthodox Christianityman. " In Mormonism it is usually referred that chapter God shows Moses a vision depicting some of God's vast creations including a vast number of worlds created for other people—a sampling of what God created in the past and what he will continue to as ''[[exaltation]]'' or ''eternal life''do forever. While Each world was prepared and peopled by God for the primary focus purpose of Mormonism is on bringing to pass the [[atonement]] immortality and eternal life of Jesus Christ, the reason for the [[atonement]] humankind. By immortality is exaltation which goes beyond mere meant personal [[salvationresurrection]]so that each individual can continue to enjoy a perfect, physical body forever. All men will be saved from [[sin]] By eternal life is meant becoming like God both in terms of holiness or godliness and [[death]]in glory. It is commonly believed by members of the Church that, like God, but only those who are sufficiently [[obedient]] an exalted human being is empowered with the privilege to create worlds and accept the atonement people in an endless process of Jesus Christ before the [[judgment]] will be exaltedexalting humankind.

In Of all the Mormon doctrines including polygamy, critics generally deem this doctrine the most offensive or even blasphemous. Some Mormons argue that even assuming mainstream Christianity's definition of God's [[Book of Moses|Mosesomnipotence]] 1:39 God tells and [[Mosesomnibenevolence]], "this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of not only can God exalt mortal man", but God must do so. In The argument is that chapter if God shows Moses a vision depicting some is all-powerful, then God is capable of exalting man, and if God's vast creations including a vast number of worlds created for other people—a sampling of what is all-good, then God created in the past and what he will continue should or must exalt man. They also point to do forever. Each world was prepared comments by Christ and peopled by God for the purpose of bringing Psalmists among others that refer to pass the immortality Divine nature and eternal life potential of humankindhumans as children of God. By immortality is meant personal Some Mormons also suggest that discussions of theosis by early [[resurrectionChurch Fathers]] so that each individual can continue to enjoy a perfectshow an early belief in the Mormon concept of deification, physical body forever. By eternal life is meant becoming like God both in terms although they disagree with much of holiness or godliness and in glory. It is commonly believed by members the other theology of the same Church that, like Godfathers, an exalted human being is empowered with most notably the privilege to create worlds and people in an endless process doctrine of exalting humankindthe Trinity.

Of all The Mormons' belief differs with the Mormon doctrines including [[Plural Marriage (Mormonism)|polygamy]], critics generally deem this doctrine Orthodox belief in deification because the most offensive or even blasphemous. Some Mormons argue Latter-Day Saints believe that even assuming mainstream Christianity's definition the core being of God's [[omnipotence]] and [[omnibenevolence]]each individual, not only can God exalt mortal man, but God must do so. The argument is that if God is all-powerfulthe "intelligence" which existed before becoming a spirit son or daughter, then God is capable of exalting man, and if God is all-good, then God should uncreated or must exalt maneternal. They also point to comments Orthodox deification always acknowledges a timeless Creator versus a finite creature who has been glorified by Christ and Psalmists among others that refer to the Divine nature and potential of humans as children grace of God. Some The Mormons also suggest that discussions are clear promoters of theosis by early Church fathers show an early belief in the Mormon concept of deificationhenotheism, although they disagree with much of and the other theology of the same Church fathers, most notably the doctrine of the TrinityFathers have absolutely no commonality with their view.