Visions of God
Alain Boureau|Thomas F. X. Noble|Julia M. H. Smith
No one can see God. St. Paul, rehearsing the ancient warning of book Exodus (33.20), maintained that before final beatitude, human beings cannot know God except “through a glass, darkly” (1 Cor. 13.12). In patristic period from Irenaeus (c. 130–c. 200) to Pseudo-Dionysius 500), contemplation may have appeared provide way accessing divine, means, as it were, getting beyond mirror – though East, influenced by condemnation heresy Eunomius (d. 394) in latter half fourth century, long fundamental unknowability against West. However, although this contemplative tradition did indeed continue, our 600 1100 CE, was quest (both speculative and practical) for sensible intellectual mediations between divine predominated. This basic orientation, which resulted massive transformation landscape life henceforth graced with multifaceted structure signs images divinity corresponds Christianity’s political social establishment. As religion established upon (and housed within) fragmentation powers, Christianity found necessary display visible markers identity legitimacy. If essence, infinite, had disclosed itself finite perception beings, its manifestation created world notably presence incarnate Christ) left traces or tracks could be both followed.
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