What is the End of Man?

[Truthstalker]

There is a Westminster shorter catechism question,

What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

Ok, folks. I keep hearing stuff about deification and Christians taking on the divine nature through adoption. Something suspicious in the eastern side of the church, seemingly. What, in the Catholic view, is the end of man (meaning his fulfillment, completion, the object for which God went to all the trouble to save us for, God’s intent or plan or purpose for those who are in heaven, etc.) Does it differ from the Q&A above? Is it more complete? What is going on here?

 

[JaneFrances]

Ok, folks. I keep hearing stuff about deification and Christians taking on the divine nature through adoption.

If you don’t want to hear about it, then close your Bible, TS. Sheesh!

Something suspicious in the eastern side of the church, seemingly.

Is suspicious really the right word? Maybe ominous? Maybe foreboding? Maybe apocalyptic?

What, in the Catholic view, is the end of man (meaning his fulfillment, completion, the object for which God went to all the trouble to save us for, God’s intent or plan or purpose for those who are in heaven, etc.)

1. Q. Who made the world?
   A. God made the world.

1. Q. Who is God?
   A. God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things.

1. Q. What is man?
   A. Man is a creature composed of body and soul, and made to the image and likeness of God.

1. Q. Why did God make you?
   A. God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in heaven.

from the Baltimore Catechism

Does it differ from the Q&A above?

Not much.

Is it more complete?

As in all theology, it can be more complicated, but perhaps not more “complete.”

What is going on here?

You are witnessing where doctrines merge. I wonder where they come up with this stuff?

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

**

There is a Westminster shorter catechism question,

**

Ok, folks. I keep hearing stuff about deification and Christians taking on the divine nature through adoption. Something suspicious in the eastern side of the church, seemingly. What, in the Catholic view, is the end of man (meaning his fulfillment, completion, the object for which God went to all the trouble to save us for, God’s intent or plan or purpose for those who are in heaven, etc.) Does it differ from the Q&A above? Is it more complete? What is going on here?

**## “To know, love, & serve God in this life, & to enjoy Him forever in the next”. **
**I can’t tell you the source of that - it may be the Penny Catechism, which is RC; then again, it may not. At all events, it & the WCF agree in substance though not in words. **

**As for deification/theosis - I prefer to stick to Biblical categories of thought, which are overwhelmingly Semitic; they emphasise the nothingness of man in comparison with gods/God; I don’t think people need to be told they are in any sense divine, but of their need for the Living & Only God **