anthropomorphism (Gk. ἄνθρωπος, ‘man’, and μορφή, ‘form’).
In theology the term signifies the attribution to God of human characteristics, feelings, and situations. Jews and Christians have regularly insisted that God is strictly incomparable and incomprehensible; so there has always been much criticism of anthropomorphism within the Judaeo-Christian tradition. Yet that tradition has also wanted to stress that God is somehow personal; so anthropomorphism may also be regarded an an integral part of Judaeo-Christianity. These facts have led to much discussion concerning the interpretation and propriety of various anthropomorphic statements about God. In this connection, discussion has often centred around the notion of ... ...
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