Human being and the praise of God

Davies, J. (2021) Human being and the praise of God. In: Jasper, D. and Fuller, M. (eds.) Made in the Image of God: Being Human in the Christian Tradition. Sacristy Press: Durham, pp. 31-55. ISBN 9781789591705

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Publisher's URL: https://www.sacristy.co.uk/books/theology/image-of-god

Abstract

At the heart of this essay is the conviction that the full identity of the human self is reached in the praise of God. I explore the terms homo religiosus (the religious human), homo orans (the praying human), homo adorans (the worshipping human). In the end it is as homo laudans (the praising human) that we move beyond ourselves and point beyond ourselves. Going back at least to the time of Saint Augustine of Hippo, the Christian theological tradition has been based on the principle that the primary relation of anything or anyone is to God. We have been created with God as our goal, and so we delight in glorifying God. Praise is our first response as we recognise Christ. The response of praise leads us to the liturgical action of the Church, most perfectly embodied in the defining action of the Christian life, the gift of the Eucharist, where we learn in time how to live both in the world and in the divine life of the Holy Trinity that exists beyond all time. In praise, and through a liturgical life Christians come to the fullness of human identity. We look to the scriptures to show us the truth about the world, and we interpret that vision in the liturgical assembly, and above all in the context of the Eucharist. The Church therefore exists to serve the world by witnessing to Jesus Christ both in the liturgy and in the world, speaking beyond itself into the public sphere and not just the private.

Item Type:Book Sections
Status:Published
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Davies, Dr John
Authors: Davies, J.
Subjects:B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > History
Publisher:Sacristy Press
ISBN:9781789591705

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