Self-deification
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged with apotheosis. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2007. |
Self-deification is the belief that oneself is a deity or the striving for personal apotheosis. The term autotheism can be used in the same sense (first attested in 1619),[1] but it should be noted that the term has an unrelated meaning as a technical term in Christology.
Self-deification can either involve the expectation of worship by other people, as in the case of divine kingship in imperial cults, or it can be the mystical notion of identity of the soul or the self with God (Unio Mystica, Advaita).
Autotheism and Autotheistic practices of Christians, Specifically Catholic Mystics vary from the way they are defined above. Here a coin term is "To be God with God" applies. This a much older historical understanding and can not be overlooked.
"To be God with God, without intermediary or any element of otherness that could constitute an obstacle or impediment" Jan van Ruusbroec 1293-1381 (Espousals, book 3)
"When one is fully in the blissful state of resting with God, one becomes God ,mighty and just" Hadewijch (letter 17)(13th century Flemish Poet and Mystic)
"My me is God" Catherine of Genoa 1447-1510
Modern instances of purported self-deification include:
- Father Divine (d. 1965)
- Lou de Palingboer (d. 1968)
- Juanita García Peraza (d. 1970)
- Yahweh ben Yahweh (d. 2007)
- Kim Il-sung
living:
- Jehovah Wanyonyi (b. c. 1924)
- Sathya Sai Baba (b. c. 1927)
- Mitsuo Matayoshi (b. 1944)
- Mother Meera (b. 1960)
- Vissarion (b. 1961)
- Grigory Grabovoy (b. 1963
- Kim Jong-il b. 1941
See also
- Cult of personality
- Divine king
- Divinization
- Godman (Hindu ascetic)
- Hubris
- Imperial cult
- List of people who have been considered deities
- List of people who have claimed to be Jesus Christ
- Messianic complex
References
1) An Anthology of Christian Mysticism by Harvey D. Egan 2)“‘To Be God with God’: The Autotheistic Sayings of the Mystics.” Theological Studies 51 (1990):230-51 by Dr. James A Wiseman 3)"The New Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality" edited by Philip Sheldrake