4 ms·

> Bildung etymologically refers to shaping yourself in the image (das Bild) of God Is this really true? The liked wikipedia page does not seem to support that.

leobg 4y ago
“Bild” is indeed “image”. Though one also says “bilden” to mean “generate”, “create”, or “consist of”. For instance, one might us it to say that two people “bilden” a team (i.e. make up a team).
- bazoom42 4y ago
  It was the “image of God” part I doubted.
  - leobg 4y ago
    I know. I’m saying it may not have anything to do with an “image” at all. More with “composing oneself”. But I haven’t looked up the etymology.
  - memling 4y ago
    Not conclusive, but Luther uses the word Bild in his translation of Genesis 1. That it may have had or acquired the meaning pretty easily given the Bible's formative currency in those years.
    - zdragnar 4y ago
      It is also remarkably similar in concept to theosis - still present in Orthodox faith, but goes back to at least early Byzantine Christians and is the foundation for the concept of ascetic monks.
netrus 4y ago
It's complicated, but it's not wrong. [1] [1] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildung#Begriffsbildung:~:text=Der%20deutsche%20Begriff%20entstand%20im%20Mittelalter%2C%5B13%5D%20wahrscheinlich%20als%20Begriffssch%C3%B6pfung%20Meister%20Eckharts%20(13./14.%C2%A0Jahrhundert)%20im%20Rahmen%20der%20Imago%2DDei%2DLehre.%20Der%20Begriff%20ist%20also%20theologischen%20Ursprungs https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildung#Begriffsbildung:~:text...
tremon 4y ago
The German wikipedia page does (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildung#Begriffsbildung https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildung#Begriffsbildung): > Der Begriff Bildung wurde von dem mittelalterlichen Theologen und Philosophen Meister Eckhart in die Deutsche Sprache eingeführt. Er bedeutete für ihn das „Erlernen von Gelassenheit“ und wurde als „Gottessache“ angesehen, „damit der Mensch Gott ähnlich werde“ The term Bildung was introduced in the German language by the medieval theologist and philosopher Father Eckhart. To him, it referred to "acquiring through inner peace" and was considered godly: "so that man can become more like God". (excuse my German reading skill, it's not as godlike as I'd like it to be) That said, the equivalent Dutch word is "vorming", which translates literally as "shaping", so I don't the concept itself is religious in nature. As alluded (but not explicitly said) on the English page, I think the word lost its religious connotation by Humboldt's inclusion in his education model.

leobg 4y ago

“Bild” is indeed “image”. Though one also says “bilden” to mean “generate”, “create”, or “consist of”. For instance, one might us it to say that two people “bilden” a team (i.e. make up a team).

bazoom42 4y ago
It was the “image of God” part I doubted.
- leobg 4y ago
  I know. I’m saying it may not have anything to do with an “image” at all. More with “composing oneself”. But I haven’t looked up the etymology.
- memling 4y ago
  Not conclusive, but Luther uses the word Bild in his translation of Genesis 1. That it may have had or acquired the meaning pretty easily given the Bible's formative currency in those years.
  - zdragnar 4y ago
    It is also remarkably similar in concept to theosis - still present in Orthodox faith, but goes back to at least early Byzantine Christians and is the foundation for the concept of ascetic monks.

netrus 4y ago

It's complicated, but it's not wrong. [1] [1] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildung#Begriffsbildung:~:text=Der%20deutsche%20Begriff%20entstand%20im%20Mittelalter%2C%5B13%5D%20wahrscheinlich%20als%20Begriffssch%C3%B6pfung%20Meister%20Eckharts%20(13./14.%C2%A0Jahrhundert)%20im%20Rahmen%20der%20Imago%2DDei%2DLehre.%20Der%20Begriff%20ist%20also%20theologischen%20Ursprungs https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildung#Begriffsbildung:~:text...

tremon 4y ago

The German wikipedia page does (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildung#Begriffsbildung https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildung#Begriffsbildung): > Der Begriff Bildung wurde von dem mittelalterlichen Theologen und Philosophen Meister Eckhart in die Deutsche Sprache eingeführt. Er bedeutete für ihn das „Erlernen von Gelassenheit“ und wurde als „Gottessache“ angesehen, „damit der Mensch Gott ähnlich werde“ The term Bildung was introduced in the German language by the medieval theologist and philosopher Father Eckhart. To him, it referred to "acquiring through inner peace" and was considered godly: "so that man can become more like God". (excuse my German reading skill, it's not as godlike as I'd like it to be) That said, the equivalent Dutch word is "vorming", which translates literally as "shaping", so I don't the concept itself is religious in nature. As alluded (but not explicitly said) on the English page, I think the word lost its religious connotation by Humboldt's inclusion in his education model.