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The Principles of The Principles of CreationCreation
What is the What is the purpose of life?purpose of life?
What is God like?What is God like?
Method of analogy
ArtistArtist
PaintingPainting
Method of analogyMethod of analogy
GodGod
CreationCreation
Romans 1:20
Law of resemblenceLaw of resemblence
“Ever since the creation of the world
God’s invisible qualities – his eternal
power and divine nature – have
been clearly seen…from what has
been made.”
So what is the world So what is the world like?like?
Every entity possesses the dual characteristics of yang/masculinity/positivity and yin/femininity/negativity
These dual characteristics are complementary and mutually attractive
All All BeingsBeings
MasculinityMasculinity FemininityFemininityHumansHumans ManMan WomanWoman
AnimalsAnimals MaleMale FemaleFemale
PlantsPlants StamenStamen PistilPistil
MoleculesMolecules
AtomsAtoms
ParticlesParticles
++ ––++ ––++ ––
Dual characteristics in creation
First Cause Universe
Cause Effect
Masculinity
Femininity
Masculinity
Femininity
If all things in the universe have masculine and feminine aspects, the Ultimate Cause or Creator of the universe must also possess the dual characteristics of masculinity and femininity. Within God these characteristics are harmonised into oneness.
– + +–
So what is the world like?So what is the world like? Everything has two aspects: an outer form and an
inner quality
The visible outer form resembles the invisible inner quality
The inner quality has a structure which is manifested in the outer form Palm reading
These two aspects are called “Dual characteristics of internal nature and external form”
Examples
All All ThingsThings
Internal Internal naturenature
External External formform
Sign Idea/signified Word/signifier
Mechanic Skill, knowledge Body
Watch Design Metal
Diamond
CoalMolecular structure
Carbon
Baptism Grace Water
Tear Sorrow, joy Water, salt
All All BeingsBeings
Internal Internal naturenature
External External formform
HumansHumans Heart, mind & Heart, mind & spirit/soulspirit/soul BodyBody
AnimalsAnimals InstinctInstinct BodyBody
PlantsPlants TaxisTaxis BodyBody
MoleculesMolecules Directive Directive naturenature
Energy & Energy & mattermatter
AtomsAtoms Directive Directive naturenature
Energy & Energy & mattermatter
ParticlesParticles Directive Directive naturenature
Energy & Energy & mattermatter
Dual characteristics
First cause Universe
Cause Result
Internalnature
External form
Externalform
Internalnature
If all things in the universe have inner and outer aspects, the Ultimate Cause or Creator of the universe must also
possess the dual characteristics of internal nature and external form.
““Know yourself. He who Know yourself. He who knows himself will know God. knows himself will know God. He who knows God will He who knows God will become like God.”become like God.”
St. Clement of AlexandriaSt. Clement of Alexandria
But the word is very near to you, in But the word is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it. you may do it.
Deuteronomy 30: 11-14Deuteronomy 30: 11-14
One GodOne God
““Hear O Israel, the Lord is our Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” God, the Lord is One.”
Deuteronomy 6:4Deuteronomy 6:4
God is the CreatorGod is the Creator
““Ah Lord God! Behold, Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the You have made the heavens and the earth heavens and the earth by Your great power by Your great power and by Your and by Your outstretched arm! outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult Nothing is too difficult for You.” for You.”
Jeremiah 32:17Jeremiah 32:17
God is all knowingGod is all knowing
For the Lord is a God of knowledge, For the Lord is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed.” And with Him actions are weighed.”
I Samuel 2:3I Samuel 2:3
God is JustGod is Just
"For all His ways are just; "For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without A God of faithfulness and without injustice, injustice, Righteous and upright is He.” Righteous and upright is He.”
Deuteronomy 32:4Deuteronomy 32:4
God is LoveGod is Love
““God is love, and the one who God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” God abides in him.”
1 John 4:161 John 4:16
God is our ParentGod is our Parent
““Our Father who Our Father who art in heaven . . .”art in heaven . . .”
Jesus called God Jesus called God “Abba”“Abba”
God is HeartGod is Heart
““What is man, that you make so much of him, and What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your that you set your heartheart on him.” on him.”
Job 7:17Job 7:17
And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his the Lord said in his heartheart, "I will never again curse , "I will never again curse the ground because of man.”the ground because of man.”
Genesis 8:21Genesis 8:21
Yet the Lord set his Yet the Lord set his heartheart in love on your fathers in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. peoples, as you are this day.
Deuteronomy 10:15Deuteronomy 10:15
Why did God create?Why did God create?
God
Creation
Joy
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.
Genesis 1:31
How is joy produced?How is joy produced?In relationshipsIn relationships
And God said, “Let And God said, “Let us make man after us make man after our own image, our own image, after our likeness”. after our likeness”.
Genesis 1:26Genesis 1:26
““I say, ‘You are gods, sons of the Most I say, ‘You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of youHigh, all of you.” .” Psalm Psalm
82:682:6
““God became man so that man might God became man so that man might become God.”become God.” AthanasiusAthanasius
““Therefore be imitators of God, as Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”beloved children.”Ephesians 5:1Ephesians 5:1
How are we to How are we to become like God?become like God?
The Three Great The Three Great BlessingsBlessings
And God blessed them, and God said And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.”and fill the earth and subdue it.”
Genesis 1:28Genesis 1:28
The first blessing: Be The first blessing: Be fruitfulfruitful
True Perso
n
Mind Body
God
“You are the temple of God and God’s spirit dwells in you.”
1 Corinthians 3:16
The ability to create and complete our character
Unity of mind and bodyWords and deeds are one
Sensitivity to the heart of God
Joy
Be ye perfect as yourheavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48
Subject Object
“And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind.”
I Samuel 2:35
Mind - Body unityMind - Body unity
MindMind BodyBody
True True PersonPerson
Subject Object
Beauty
Truth
Goodness
Food
Sleep
Shelter
Sex
God
The second blessing: The second blessing: MultiplyMultiply
SocietySociety
NationNation
WorldWorld
True Family
Man
God
WomanWoman
The ability to create an ideal family
Joy
Four Great Realmsof Heart
If we love one another,God lives in us and hislove is made completein us.
I John 4:12
““Become like God”Become like God”
When husband and wife are united in marriage, they are no longer seen as something earthly, but as the image of God Himself.
St John Chrysostom
The love of God and the love of man are not two loves, but aspects of the same unifying love.
St Maximus the Confessor
Third blessing: Take Third blessing: Take dominiondominion
Beautiful World
Person Creation
God
Right of dominion over the creation
Joy
Inherit God’screativity
Lords of CreationWhatever the man called every living creature, thatwas its name.
Genesis 2:19
Microcosm
Harmony with natureGod took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.
Genesis 2:15The creation waitsfor the revealingof the sons of God.Romans 8:19
What was God’s original What was God’s original ideal?ideal?
Mature Person
Mind Body
God
SocietySocietyNationNationWorldWorld
Happy Family
Adam
God
Eve
Beautiful
World
Person Creation
God
How do things grow?How do things grow?
How do living things How do living things grow?grow?
Completion
Growth
Formation
Tree
Sapling
Seed
Adult
Youth
Child
IndirectDominion
DirectDominion
God
Man
“God unites Himselfonly with gods.”St Symeon the New Theologian
God guides peoplethrough his Word
God is love, and he who abides in loveabides in God, and Godabides in him. I Jn. 4:16
Principles of GrowthPrinciples of Growth
Living things automatically reach Living things automatically reach perfection through the laws of natureperfection through the laws of nature
Human beings only reach perfection Human beings only reach perfection through the laws of nature AND by through the laws of nature AND by fulfilling their responsibilityfulfilling their responsibility
““And the child grew strong, filled with And the child grew strong, filled with wisdom and the favour of God was wisdom and the favour of God was upon him.”upon him.” Luke 2:40Luke 2:40
The role of human The role of human responsibilityresponsibility
““Your faith has made you well.”Your faith has made you well.” Mark 5:34Mark 5:34
““The prayer of faith will save the sick The prayer of faith will save the sick man.”man.”
James 5:15James 5:15
““Behold I stand at the door and knock.”Behold I stand at the door and knock.” Revelation 3:20Revelation 3:20
““Ask and you will receive.”Ask and you will receive.” Matthew 7:8Matthew 7:8
Divine Grace + Human Will → God’s Will
Freedom and Freedom and responsibilityresponsibility
““Behold I set before you this day, a Behold I set before you this day, a blessing and a curse: the blessing if blessing and a curse: the blessing if you obey the commandments of the you obey the commandments of the Lord your God . . . And the curse, if Lord your God . . . And the curse, if you do not obey the commandments you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God . . .”of the Lord your God . . .”
Deuteronomy 11:26-28Deuteronomy 11:26-28
Examples of freedomExamples of freedom
If Adam and Eve had not eaten the If Adam and Eve had not eaten the fruit there would be no sinfruit there would be no sin
If Abraham had not been willing to If Abraham had not been willing to sacrifice Isaac . . . .sacrifice Isaac . . . .
If the people of Ninevah had not If the people of Ninevah had not repentedrepented
If Jesus had been accepted . . . . If Jesus had been accepted . . . .
Why did God give people Why did God give people freedom and responsibility?freedom and responsibility?
To give us creativity so that we could To give us creativity so that we could become co-creators and children of Godbecome co-creators and children of God
So that we could become Lords of So that we could become Lords of Creation and rule creation in our own rightCreation and rule creation in our own right
What is the What is the relationship between relationship between
the spiritual world and the spiritual world and the physical world?the physical world?
Like dying Like dying
SPIRITUAL WORLDSPIRITUAL WORLDfinal destinationfinal destination
EARTHEARTHpreparation preparation
of the spirit of the spirit
selfself
WOMBWOMBpreparationpreparation
of the physical selfof the physical self
Placenta
MindSpirit self
BodyPhysical self
Spirit Mind
Spirit Body
40 weeks 80 years Eternity
Unborn child
It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.I Cor.15:44
What are the stages of What are the stages of life?life?
Physical Body
Spiritual Body
Spiritual Mind
PhysicalMind
What is the position of human What is the position of human beings? beings?
SpiritualWorld
PhysicalWorld
AngelsSpiritsAncestors
MineralsPlantsAnimals
Mediator between spiritualand physical worlds
Jesus spoke toElijah and Moses
Human beings Human beings are a microcosm are a microcosm
of the cosmosof the cosmos
What is the relationship between spirit and body?
+
Air
Food, water
-
Vitality elements
Life elements
‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me.’ John 4:34
Light
Warmth
PhysicalSelf
SpiritualSelf
Spirit elements
+
-
“… as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead”. James 2:14-26
Love
Truth
+
Atmosphereof freedom
GodGod
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