Theoria

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Russian Orthodox icon of theTransfiguration (Theophanes the Greek, ca. 1408).

Theoria (Greek θεωρία) is Greek for contemplation or 'the perception of beauty regarded as a moral faculty' (OED). From within Eastern Orthodox theology it is the 'vision' and or the 'seeing' of God, as the experience of God, achieved by the pure of heart who are no longer subject to the afflictions of the passions. This affliction of the passions is caused by the knowledge of good and the knowledge the evil. Theoria is validated because God is in the Universe or material world, which is evidenced by the material world containing beauty. Theoria is obtained as a gift from the Holy Spirit to those who through partaking of the sacraments along with the observance of the commandments of God and ascetic practices (see also kenosis, Poustiniaand schema) have achieved dispassion.^[1]Theoria is closely tied to the ascetic form of contemplative prayer called hesychasm that in the Eastern Church can also encompass theJesus Prayer or the Prayer of the Heart. Theoria is a faculty that develops along with and is intimately related to the process of theosis, considered (especially by the Eastern Orthodox church) to be the quintessential purpose and goal of Christianity. Theosis has three stages the first is called catharis or purification, the second theoria or illumination and finally theosis or deification.^[2] The love of beauty (philokalia), transcending the love of wisdom (philosophy) manifests into the love of God (theophilos). Love of God as faith in God manifests as humility. Humility is above all else, the characteristic hallmark of the saints. Theoria and Theosis culminates into the Kingdom of God. Here humility as a saintly attribute is called sophia or Holy Wisdom. Humility not knowledge is the most critical component to mankind's salvation.^[3]

The word has its origin in the Greek language and is derived from the same root as the English word theory. Theoria is used to express the experience of life as "one who watches a play or activity", the state of "being" is defined as spectator, from noetically or of noesis, (insight) of the nous (spirit). Hence it means to focus one's attention exclusively on one thing, Beauty and or God being the object of focus. The act of experiencing and or observing is through the nous or "eye of the soul" Matthew 6:22-6:34.^[4] Noesisas faith in God (action through faith and love for God), leads to truth through our contemplative faculties. This theory, or speculation, as action in faith and love for God, is then expressed famously as "Beauty shall Save the World". This expression of the idea comes from a mystic or gnosiology perspective (rather than say, a scientific or cultural one),^[5][6][7][8]

Contents [hide] 1 Ontological or Trinitarian Theology 2 False Spiritual Knowledge 2.1 Spiritual somnolence 2.2 False Ascetism or Cults 3 True Spiritual Knowledge 4 Orthodox theology 4.1 Alexandrian tradition of theoria 4.2 Cappadocian tradition of theoria 4.3 Dionysius the Areopagite's Apophatism 4.4 St Macarius of Egypt 4.5 The Hesychast controversy 4.6 Theological Issues between Eastern Christianity and Western Christianity 4.6.1 Deification 4.6.2 Heaven and Hell 4.7 Eastern Orthodox tradition 4.8 Theoria in western traditions 4.9 See also 4.10 Quotes 4.11 Bibliography 4.12 References 4.13 External links