Theosis - God's Eye View

0:00Hey, this is Anthony from Raiders of the Lost Podcast. With movies, the actors get all the buzz. But nothing happens without the crew behind the scenes. That's how it is with Geico. They're your support system behind the scenes. From finding you savings to handling your claim quickly, and you probably don't even think about it. You know what that's called? Peace of mind. So here's to the gaffers, key grips, and yes, Geico. Behind the scenes, taking care of all the hard stuff. So you have the confidence to keep moving. Learn more at Geico.com. Hi everybody, it's me, Cinderella Axe.

1:08You are listening to the Fringe Radio Network. I know I was gonna tell them, hey do you have the app? It's the best way to listen to the Fringe Radio Network. It's safe, and you know I have to log in to use it, and it doesn't track you or trace you, and it sounds beautiful. I know I was gonna tell them, how do you get the app? Just go to FringeRadioNetwork.com, right at the top of the page. I know slippers, we gotta keep cleaning these chimneys. Come to the Gods I Have You podcast. I am your host, Trevor. Today is what I like to call an accidental podcast. This is a podcast by default. Let me explain.

2:09So I think you've all heard me say complain. No, I wouldn't say complain, but you've heard me say that the podcast does not make money, and that's fine, because that's not really the intention. However, it would be cool if it made money, right? That'd be nice. So I don't know if you guys know, but a buddy of mine who I co-host a podcast with and I started a publishing company. And it's that word. Those words are doing a lot of work, as the kids would say, because really it's just, he's a writing coach and an editor. And so he edited my book. I formatted it. I made the cover. We got it all typeset and formatted correctly. And we went through Amazon. And so you can buy the book on Amazon. I recorded the audio book and stuff.

3:11So hold on one second. Anyway, so we did that. And afterwards we're like, well, we could do this for people because it's a bit of work, actually. And you know, it's not really a good business because like when I wrote a book, my instinct was not to give anyone any money. You know, that's why I did it myself with help, though, with my friend, David. Anyway, so we have this thing. It's called Hemisphere Press. There's a website. There's a sub stack. And so he, mostly he, I do very little, is helping other people write books. But it's not really a good business because it takes forever to write a book. So like he's been working on books with people for like six months, eight months, you know. And we've also done a lot of royalty-only contracts, which means you don't pay as the author. You don't pay anything. You just give a percentage of your sales to us. And because it's like such a long lead time to actually get products out, it just ends

4:18up being a lot of free work. So I've been kind of trying to think of ways to make money not really for the podcast, but for him because he's doing all this work. And you know, I'm a co-owner in the company, but I don't expect really to ever get money. We'll see maybe in five years. But so I was thinking I don't want to edit. I don't want to format. I want to let him keep doing all that work. But is there anything I could do that would help bring in somebody? And so my idea was this. Tell me what you think about this. Email me at God's Eye of You book at gmail.com. There are a lot of books that are in what's called the public domain. What this means is that they're either I think a hundred years old or they, they, the author has died more than 75 years ago. There's like all these rules for what becomes public domain. Like the Bible is public domain. That's why you know, you can listen to a million different versions of the Bible on

5:24audible. And you're, I think you're supposed to make some modifications like maybe you write a short introduction or something. Anyway, so the problem with this, if you want to try to make a business of it is most a hundred year old book suck. In the ones that don't suck have already been reproduced and you know, the updated edition 10 times by 10 different people. So it's just like a difficult way to make money. But I have found a category of books that some for some reason has not really been reproduced. And so my idea was that I was going to start recording these books on audio. Now I'm not probably, you know, I'm not working free, man, right? So it maybe doesn't make sense for me to record audio books. However, no one else is doing it.

6:24You know, and so this category of books, it's, it's all of these books that are important to the early Christians, you know, that it's big in orthodoxy. And then also other books that aren't necessarily specifically orthodox, but are, you know, ancient spiritual texts. Now many of these are pretty unreadable, but some of them aren't. Some of them are actually really good. Like they really hold up. And so I thought I would start recording these. And then probably either like put put a publishing them on our sub stack, also audible, but somewhere that we control, because if you don't know Amazon, like they take like 80% of the money when you buy an audiobook, something like that. And so whether that's an app or a website or so, or they actually is really cool, you can make a paid podcast feed.

7:27So maybe you pay a dollar a month or whatever. And you get a podcast feed email to you and you can enter it into your existing podcast app that you already use. So anytime we publish a new book, it pops up. And so that that that'd be kind of cool, like a subscription based audiobook thing for books. A lot of these books don't even have audiobooks. I looked up some and one of them had like an AI voice, but most of them didn't even have an audiobook. And there's other books that I can't believe don't have audiobooks like some of the Deutero canonical books that are in some Bibles, but not others, you know, like the book of Wisdom or even some of the now most of the apocryphal books like Book of Enoch, there's tons of audiobooks. So I'm trying to find this niche, you know, of really interesting ancient spiritual texts

8:33that in my opinion are not like going to lead people astray, you know, they're not like weird pseudo apocryphal, nostic texts that have been like discredited as heretical. You know, now I will say some of these books, if you are a modern Christian might kind of shock you. And it's interesting, it's interesting reading what the first Christians thought. And I will admit it's more nostic than we are. And what I mean by that is, you know, there's a lot of emphasis on becoming God's ourselves, but lowercase G, like becoming a son of God, not actually becoming God, because the desire to be God, this is like a satanic impulse, right? This is the Lucifer the Rebel who's cast out of heaven. He wants to rule heaven and be God.

9:35It's different. The word they use for it is theosis. And there's actually a book called Theosis and stupid Google AI, I Google, you know, public, domain, first century, or I didn't say that. I said like early church, church father books, something like that. So it should have been like fourth century. That's kind of what I was assuming. And much of them were. And one of the books was called Theosis that came back in the search results. And I started reading it. And I'm like, this is good. This sounds like it could, like it could have been written yesterday. So I recorded the first chapter. And towards the end of the first chapter, they have the word television and radio. And I'm like, oh, this book wasn't written 1600 years ago. I look it up and it was written in 1990.

10:38So it's still under copyright. So there's a waste of time. But that doesn't mean I can't play the chapter I recorded for you all right now. This is a, this is what is called. If you're interested in copyright, so if this would be called like fair use, you know, we're commenting, we're talking about theosis. And we're going to listen to one chapter only, a sample. And I kind of explain to you why it's relevant. So I've commented on it. So I think it's okay. But we'll see the monks of saying at most can, can send me a cease and desist. And I will happily remove it if not. Anyway, so it's very short. I don't, I don't even know if the top of my head all long, it is, but like five minutes, ten minutes. And so that's going to play now. Or briefly, once I finish wrapping this up. And then we'll get back to our regular style podcasts soon tomorrow or something.

11:38But just wanted to put this idea out there. Curious if anyone would be interested. I mean, the idea is that they would sort of be curated, you know, so there's all of these public domain texts. And 90% of them are just tedious. So the idea is I would try to find the decent ones, ideally kind of on the short side, like under 100 pages. And we could record, we'd make an ebook too for those who are interested. But then we would record the aday book and they'd go into like a library, like a, like a, a patristic early church library, but also other stuff, not, not necessarily just Christian stuff or just early church stuff. Just things that I think are, are interesting and helpful. And some of them are, are pretty helpful. The one I'm working on right now, I'll tell you, it's called the ladder of divine ascent.

12:43And it's 30 rungs of a ladder. And the idea is that you're ascending this ladder towards, you know, on your journey to be a son of God. And I realize how central that was to orthodoxy and I think most Protestants would sort of criticize that as nostic. But it strikes me as there are some key distinctions, you know. But we can get into that on another episode. Little briefly, briefly, I'll just tell you like the thing about narcissism is that they believe that the physical is evil and that the spiritual is good. And so therefore, the kind of fallen being called the Demiurge that created this universe is a imperfect being. He is flawed and his creation is flawed. And it's sort of our job to escape. It's weird though is most Nostics consider themselves Christian Nostics.

13:49At least the early Nostics did. I think that's less true today. And so there is this like positive attitude towards Jesus. But they tend to view the God of the Old Testament as evil. And this is supported by some early like heretical ideas in the church like Marcianism, obviously Nosticism, Valin, what are they called, Valentines? I don't know what that other one is called. But there's all these guys who kind of are struck by the difference between Jesus and some of the things that happen in the Old Testament, which they are interpreting as being evil. And most of these things have pretty good rejoinders. Like there's the bear that attacks the ball, the kids who criticize him for being bald. I don't know if you know that story. But there's rejoinders for these. Like the Hebrew word they use for young kids actually means like military age.

14:52Like this is how soldiers are described. And it's not a kid. It's like 40 kids. And so this man, this prophet is being fronted by 40 men outside of city who worships a different God. And maybe that context means like that they're basically it's a confrontation. And so God protecting his prophet causes a bear to attack them. I don't know. Listen, I don't know. But the point is like there's rejoinders for much of that stuff. But some stuff there really is it. I mean, some stuff it's like man. That's rough. You know, so there were early Christians who saw this and kind of drew this parallel between the God of the Old Testament and then Jesus. Here's the problem though. Jesus didn't draw that bad decision. So what I find is that like often the insistence that Jesus is good and the old God is bad, people really just say that.

15:54But they're actually they tend not to be very pro-Jesus. Like I know no sticks who are mythicists and they don't think that Jesus ever existed. And so I know no sticks that are basically like pretty openly, you know, I think most traditional Christians would call them satanists, you know. And there's obviously a lot of no sticks who think the serpent and the garden is a good guy. And I think that's all fine. Like if you want to feel that way, it's just I don't I don't think there's a way to call that Christian nosticism. But people do. And I think this is kind of like a almost like a recruiting tactic, you know. It's like, oh yeah, you're a Christian. Why me too? I love Jesus as well. However, you know, the God of the Old Testament is evil. And it's like, well, but Jesus said that's who he was, you know, we've we've done a bunch of those episodes. And he's constantly referencing Old Testament scripture, constantly referencing Old Testament prophecy and that he's the fulfillment of that prophecy.

16:57So you can't have it both ways. That's my opinion. Of course, I don't know what the truth is, right? I'm just that is an internally inconsistent argument in my opinion, but it's very popular, very popular. So just something for you all to just be aware of. I mean, I'm all for exploring. It's just it's inconsistent. So it's been explored as far as I'm concerned, I've explored it. It's internally inconsistent. And so in order to continue exploring it, I would have to like radically change my belief system and basically, basically just stop. I think you basically have to throw it all out to be a quote unquote Christian, so that is not in my opinion what these books that I will be showing you do. These books are very clear about who God is.

17:58There's no inconsistencies, there's no heredicism. It's just, you know, Jesus is the God man. He is the incarnate God of the universe. And our job is to similarly ascend to improve ourselves in these very specific ways, which we will describe in the book, so that we can become like God's ourselves, which they would argue with God always wanted for us. Because if you remember in the garden, you know, the serpent says, God just doesn't want you to be like him, he doesn't want you to eat the fruit. But a careful reading kind of kind of makes it seem like God always intended for us to eat from the tree of life. And perhaps from the tree of good and evil, knowledge of good and evil. Just on his terms, when we were ready, you know, and of course, we violated the first

19:01instructions we were given. We were deceived and you know the story. So, so I think you could argue that that is still God's intention for us. Certainly, if you read the New Testament, there's many places that you could many, there's many things that Jesus said that Nostocs used to support the idea like, you know, the kingdom of God is within you kind of a thing. So anyway, so I like that. I think it's cool. I like ways of sort of uniting the aspects of the different religious practices that all make sense to me. Like, I like trying to find coherent theories that sort of tie all the interesting things together without contradicting things. I think you know, I like that in physics, I like that in neuroscience, and I also like it in theology. So let me know what you think. Let me know if that's something you're interested in.

20:03There could even be old scientific books we read. Although I kind of suspect that would be boring, you know, 100 year old science books, but maybe not. Maybe not. You know, we could read Tesla's autobiography or something. Anyway, yes. So God's I view book at gmail.com until then enjoy the first chapter of theosis. God bless. Theosis, the true purpose of human life. The question of the destiny of our lives is very serious as it concerns the most important question for man. For what purpose are we placed on earth? If man takes a correct stance on this issue, if he finds his true destiny, then he will be able to take a correct viewpoint in relation to particular questions that arise in our daily life and our relationships with our fellow men in our studies, profession, marriage,

21:05and the bearing and upbringing of children. If he does not relate correctly to the basic issue, then he will also fail in life's particular purposes. For what meaning can a particular purpose have if human life as a whole has no meaning? Our life's purpose is declared in the first chapter of the holy Bible when the holy author tells us that God created man in his image and likeness. From this we discover the great love the triune God has for man. He does not wish him simply to be a bean with certain gifts, certain qualities, a certain superiority over the rest of creation. He wishes him to be a God by grace. Externally, man seems to exist in a purely biological way, like the other living beans, the animals. Of course, he is an animal, but an animal which is in the process of theosis through its

22:09inclination towards God, as St. Gregory the theologian says in his characteristic way. He is the only being that is distinguished from all else in creation, because he is the only one which can become a God. The phrase in his image describes the gifts which God gave only to man in order to complete him as an icon of God and not to any of his other creatures. These gifts are a logos-related news, conscience and individual sovereignty, i.e. freedom, creativity, eros, and the yearning for the absolute and for God, personal self-awareness, and anything else which puts man above all other living beans in creation and makes him a man and an individual. What is to say, everything that makes man a person, these are the carismata by which we are formed in his image?

23:11Having been endowed in his image, man is called upon to be completed in his likeness. This is theosis. The creator, God by nature, calls man to become a God by grace. The carismata that form us in his image were given to man by God in order that he may reach very high, so that through them he may attain a likeness to his God and creator, so that he may have not only an external moral relationship, but a personal union with his creator. Perhaps it is very daring for us to even say or think that our life's purpose is to become gods by grace. However, neither the Holy Bible nor the Church Fathers have hidden this from us. Unfortunately, ignorance not only exists in people outside the Church, but also in many within the Church, because they assume that the purpose of our life is at best simply

24:14moral improvement to become better men. When we are told by the gospel, by the tradition of the Church, and by the Holy Fathers, that the purpose of our life is not just that man should become better than he is. More moral, more just, more self-controlled, more mindful. All these must happen, but none of them are the great purpose, the ultimate purpose, for which our maker and creator molded man. What is this purpose? Theosis. For man to be united with God, not in an external or a sentimental manner, but on to psychologically, in a real way. Man is placed so high in orthodox anthropology that if we compare that with the anthropologies of all the philosophies or social and psychological systems, we will very easily find out how poor these are, how little they correspond to man's great yearning for something very great and

25:15true in his life. Once man is called to be a God, i.e. was created to become a God. As long as he does not find himself on the path of theosis, he feels an emptiness within himself. He feels that something is not going right. So he is not joyful, even when he is trying to cover the emptiness with other activities. He may numb himself, create a glamorous world, or cage and imprison himself within this world. Yet at the same time he remains poor, small, limited. He may organize his life in such a way that he is almost never at peace, never alone with himself. Surrounded by noise, tension, television, radio, continuous information about this and that, he may seek to forget with drugs, not to think, not to worry, not to remember that he is on the wrong path and is strayed from his purpose.

26:19In the end, wretched contemporary man finds no rest until he finds that something else, the highest thing, the thing which actually exists in his life, which is truly beautiful and creative. Can man unite with God? Can he commune with him? Can he become a God by grace? If you are ready to feel confident again, visit orderlymeds.com to learn about which GLP1 you may be eligible for. Getting started as fast, easy and happens virtually through telemedicine from licensed professionals. Game confidence, choose healthy habits this fall. Check it out for yourself. Go to orderlymeds.com. That's orderlymeds.com. Taking care of yourself feels great. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Electoral Lady required entertainment by a licensed provider. Individual results may vary. See website for details.

27:21This is the story of the one. As a shipping manager, he's running the dock, stocking supplies, and making sure every order goes out on time. And Granger helps him stay prepared. From shipping supplies to PPE to hand tools. He counts on Granger to keep products moving and trucks rolling. So his operation runs smoothly, no matter the shift. Call 1-800-GRAENGER. Click ranger.com or just stop by. Granger for the ones who get it done. Hey, it's Tories Belling with Back to School Season here. The focus at my house has shifted to classes, assignments, and after school activities. And good nutrition is especially important. Eating beef is packed with protein, iron, zinc, and other essential nutrients that help kids thrive in the classroom and stay energized throughout the day. Visit backtoschoolcalifornia.com for money-saving offers on beef. Delicious recipes and more. Back to school nutrition starts with backtoschoolcalifornia.com.

28:21Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albert, Sins, Vaughn, and Pavilion. Follow us coming, which means cough and cold season is almost here. Get ahead by stocking up on all your favorite cough and cold essentials now through September 29th. Shop in store and online to save on products like Allegra tablets, halls drops, musinets, kickstart, zirtec, allergy relief tablets, Tylenol, liquid gels, one a day men's health, and VIX-DAKEL and NICLE COMBO packs. Offer and September 29th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit Albert Sins, vansorpavilions.com for more details.