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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