Orthodox Theology of Personhood: A Critical Overview (Part 2)

Abstract

This paper offers a critical overview of the more recent Orthodox theology of personhood. This theology is put into perspective in terms of overviewing its development and transmission between four notable exponents: Lossky, Yannaras, Zizioulas and Horuzhy. The model of personhood they share is shown to be re-received and specifically reworked by each, not without sparks of mutual critique. Still, the general tendency is to make the conception of personhood more ecclesially and anthropologically relevant. Critical consequences of this of theological tought are not to be understood narrowly. For they ramify to bear upon epistemology, ontology, philosophy, theology proper and ethics. Apart from fruitful solutions to the questions raised by thematizing the challenge of personhood (as immanent to our being image-bearers of God), we display entry points for critical problematization of this Orthodox current of thought. Hence critical consequences of the theology of personhood are not articulated without reference to the meta-critique of it, as offered by a third generation of Orthodox theologians. We propose to view this process in general as a birth of a ‘theological age’ of sorts: the nascent of ecclesial understanding of our personhood in God.