[f. as prec. + -ISM.]
1. Theol. The doctrine of the union of the divine and human natures, or of the manifestation of God as man, in Christ.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., xxiv. (1882), 301. Speaking theologically and impersonally, i.e. of Psilanthropism and Theanthropisin as schemes of belief.
1867. Westcott, in Contemp. Rev., VI. 417. If we might venture to use a word not wholly without ancient precedent, it [Christianity] might be described as Theanthropism. It proclaims not a conception of God, but a manifestation of God.
1875. Lightfoot, Comm. Col. (ed. 2), 119. The monotheism of the Old Testament is supplemented by the theanthropism of the New.
2. Mythol. The attribution of human nature or character to the gods.
Cf. ANTHROPOPHUISM, which word Mr. Gladstone, writing to the Editor in July 1883, said he had given up and had ‘taken refuge in theanthropism.’
1878. Gladstone, Prim. Homer, iii. 50. Greatly out of keeping with the anthropomorphism, or, as I would rather call it, theanthropism, of the Olympian system.
So Theanthropist, a believer in theanthropism (also attrib. or as adj.); Theanthropology = theanthropism.
1816. Coleridge, in Lit. Rem. (1836), I. 394. This is evident, that if the *theanthropist is a Christian, the psilanthropist cannot be so.
1887. Dublin Rev., April, 248. The theanthropist or Christian doctrine.
1845. F. Barham, A, 9. *Theanthropology, or the doctrine of God in man and the form of man.
