Mirrors of the Divine: Late Ancient Christianity and the Vision of God

Mirrors of the Divine explores how four influential authors of the late ancient world--Tertullian of Carthage,Clement of Alexandria,Gregory of Nyssa,and Augustine of Hippo--used language of vision and mirrors to construct Christian agency,identity,and epistemology. It analyzes their theological writings on vision and knowledge of God to explore how contradictory theories of sight shaped their cosmologies,theologies,subjectivities,genders,and discursive worlds.

Format: Hardback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 28 March 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Mirrors of the Divine delves into the profound ways in which four influential authors of the late ancient world, namely Tertullian of Carthage, Clement of Alexandria, Gregory of Nyssa, and Augustine of Hippo, employed language of vision and mirrors to shape their theological discourses. These authors, who lived during the second to fourth centuries CE, sought to construct Christian agency, identity, and epistemology, and their writings offer a rich tapestry of insights into these complex subjects.

Early Christian authors, drawing upon the Pauline verse 1 Corinthians 13:12, described the vision of God as a mirror, albeit a dim one. The verse asserts that "now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face." However, each author interpreted this verse differently, guided by their unique assumptions about the nature of vision and mirrors. They grappled with questions such as whether vision occurred through something leaving or entering the eye, whether one was impacted by seeing or by being seen, and whether mirrors could provide trustworthy knowledge.

Spanning the Eastern and Western Christian traditions, Mirrors of the Divine meticulously analyzes these four authors' theological writings on vision and knowledge of God. By delving into their cosmologies, theologies, subjectivities, genders, and discursive worlds, the book explores how contradictory theories of sight shaped their theological frameworks. Emily R. Cain, the author, demonstrates how the portrayal of eyes and mirrors by these authors reveals their profound visions of the world and their relationship to it. She shows how arguments about visual perception are intricately linked to broader debates about identity, agency, and epistemology, shedding light on the self-conscious ways in which late ancient Christians thought of themselves, their worlds, and their God.

Through her meticulous analysis, Cain uncovers the intricate connections between vision, mirrors, and the construction of Christian identity. She highlights how the authors used these metaphors to convey their ideas about the nature of knowledge, the relationship between the divine and the human, and the role of the individual in the divine plan. Mirrors of the Divine serves as a valuable resource for scholars and students interested in exploring the complex interplay between religion, philosophy, and the visual arts in the late ancient world. It offers a fresh perspective on these authors' theological ideas and sheds light on the ways in which they sought to navigate the challenges of constructing a coherent Christian worldview in a world filled with diverse beliefs and ideologies.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 164 x 243 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197663370