Askitiki nikos kazantzakis biography
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The Saviors of God
Essay by Nikos Kazantzakis
Ascesis: The Saviors of God (Greek and Latin: Ασκητική. Salvatores dei) is a series of "spiritual exercises" written by GreekauthorNikos Kazantzakis. It was first written between 1922 and 1923, while staying in Vienna and Berlin, and subsequently published in 1927 in the Athenian magazine Anayennisi (Renaissance). The text was later revised on various occasions and reached its final state in 1944.[1]
Presentation
[edit]The author first presents a prologue. Given the sacred tone of the book, which strives to go beyond philosophy and metaphysics, this introduction is better understood as an admonition. The first words summarize the undercurrent of The Saviors of God: "We came from an abyss of darkness; we end in an abyss of darkness: the interval of light between one and another we name life."
Kazantzakis thought that there are two streams in life: the first one runs toward ascesis, synthesis, life and immortality, while the second one runs towards dissolution, matter, death. However, both streams are part of the universe, and being so, sacred. One of Kazantzakis' main concerns was what force drives the uncreated to the created. As opposition seems to be intrinsic to life and infinite, human beings sho
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A lecture about Kazantzakis’ Askitiki will be presented by Howard F. Dossor next Thursday 2 June, at the Greek Centre, as a part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.
The theological perspective known as “Process Theology” has made much use over recent years of the writings of Nikos Kazantzakis to validate its interpretation of God as a deity in development. Whereas, during his lifetime, Kazantzakis found himself ostracized by many within the Church as an apostate, today he is welcomed within some branches of the western church as an important theological thinker.
However, an opposing reading of Kazantzakis is not only possible but arguably more in tune with the spiritual perspicacity of an era that has been designated post-Christian. While religious readers of his work will focus on his repeated use of the word God in his writings, its more definitive centre may lie in what Kazantzakis has to say to us about man.
Celebrating Life as the highest value human beings can esteem, Kazantzakis gives it its full value and locates human existence firmly within its energetic thrust upward towards an escalating enrichment. Further, he offers us a set of practical guidelines which enhance our capacity to engage spiritually and creativel
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