World is a key concept in
theology.
Christian views on the World
In
Christianity, the concept connotes the
fallen and corrupt world order of human society.
The world is frequently cited alongside
the flesh and
the Devil as a source of
temptation that Christians should flee.
Monks speak of striving to be "
in this world, but not
of this world", and the term "worldhood" has been distinguished from "monkhood", the former being the status of merchants, princes, and others who deal with "worldly" things.
This view is clearly expressed by king
Alfred the Great of England (d.
899) in his famous Preface to the
Cura Pastoralis:
"Therefore I command you to do as I believe you are willing to do, that you free yourself from worldly affairs (
Old English: woruldðinga)
as often as you can, so that wherever you can establish that wisdom that God gave you, you establish it. Consider what punishments befell us in this world when we neither loved wisdom at all ourselves, nor transmitted it to other men; we had the name alone that we were Christians, and very few had the practices." Although Hebrew and Greek words meaning "
world" are used in Scripture with the normal variety of senses, many examples of its use in this particular sense can be found in the teachings of
Jesus according to the
Gospel of John, eg. 7:7, 8:23, 12:25, 14:17, 15:18-19, 17:6-25, 18:36. For contrast, a relatively newer concept is
Catholic imagination.
The World, the Flesh and the Devil is a common figure of speech in the Church which reflects these sentiments.
Contemptus mundi is the name given to the recognition that the world, in all its vanity, is nothing more than a futile attempt to hide from God by stifling our desire for the good and the holy. This view has been criticized as a
pastoral of fear by modern historian
Jean Delumeau.
During the
Second Vatican Council, there was a novel attempt to develop a positive theological view of the World, which is illustrated by the pastoral optimism of the constitutions
Gaudium et Spes,
Lumen Gentium,
Unitatis Redintegratio and
Dignitatis Humanae.
Eastern Christianity
In Eastern Christian monasticism or asceticism the world of mankind is driven by passions. Therefore the passions of the World are simply called "the world". Each of these passions are a link to the world of mankind or order of human society. Each of these passions must be overcome in order for a person to receive salvation (
theosis). The process of theosis is a personal relationship with God. This understanding is taught within the works of ascetics like
Evagrius Ponticus, and the most seminal
ascetic works read most widely by Eastern Christians, the
Philokalia and the
Ladder of Divine Ascent (the works of Evagrius and John Climacus are also contained within the Philokalia). At the highest level of world
transcendence is
hesychasm which culminates into the
Vision of God.
Orbis Catholicus
Orbis Catholicus is a latin phrase meaning
Catholic World, per the expression
Urbi et Orbi, and refers to that area of
Christendom under
papal supremacy. It is somewhat similar to the phrases
Secular world,
Jewish world and
Islamic world.
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