Divinity

The divinity (also divinity, Latin for " divinitas " ) is in some cultures a special property, which is based on an assumed fundamental difference between gods and men. General or special divinity of animal species has been and is also believed in some cultures.

Nature

In Greek and Roman antiquity, the contrast established in the mortality of man towards immortality of the gods, whereas in Judaism, Christianity and Islam in distinction between creature and Creator. The contrast was too divine then humane. The elevation of a man to a god called deification ( apotheosis ).

Historical examples

Historically, most, possibly up to the hunter-gatherer cultures, the animistic adoption of a divinity of certain animals could go back, such as the bear among the Celts.

A Greek mythic attribution of divinity was for Heracles after his fiery death. The Trinity doctrine of Christianity, the same is in accordance with Jesus Christ fully God and fully man, in contrast, was a complete paradigm shift ( " the Jews a stumbling block, to the Greeks foolishness "). In the history of Rome was Augustus by the imperial cult the Amtsvergottung the Emperor with its own temples and priests to hold office until the usual Constans (→ Divus ).

Colloquial language

Is Redensartlich to be "divine", high praise, for example, for a singer - hence the term "Diva". From mocking use to explain a number of expressions such as " hubby ", " weather gods ", " food of the gods ", inter alia, m.

• Religion