Gregory's Interpretation of Creation and the Distinction of the
Sexes.
Gregory differentiates the creation of the "common essence of
humanity" from the creation of male and female. The distinction of sex has no
relation to the image of God in man because this distinction is not present in
the Archetype. "Therefore," Gregory concludes, "the establishment of our nature
was a double operation. We were made similar to the Divinity but were also
divided into different sexes." By this second operation man is linked with
animal nature.
Man is created in the image of God, and for this reason there
should have been no need for different sexes. The increase of the human race
should have taken place in the same way that the "angelic race multiplies, in a
way that is unknown to us." At the fall, however, man lost his equality with the
angels and thus lost their impassive means of increase. God had foreknowledge of
this fall, since "He saw beforehand by His all-seeing power that human wills
would fail to follow a direct course to what is good, and that men would fall
from angelic life." Therefore God "invented" for His image the distinction and
division of the sexes, which has no source in the Divine Archetype. God
"invented for our nature a means of increase which is suitable for those who
have fallen into sin. He implanted in mankind that animal and irrational mode by
which we now succeed each other instead of the mode which is fitting for the
majestic nature of the angels." Gregory adds that this at least is his view of
the matter.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment