Theocentrism places God at the center of the universe.
In order to know the meaning of the term theocentrism , the first thing to do is discover its etymological origin. In that sense we can say that it derives from Greek since it is the result of the sum of three components of said language:
-The noun “theos”, which can be translated as “god”.
-“Kentron”, which is equivalent to “center”.
-The suffix “-ism”, which is used to indicate “doctrine”.
What is theocentrism
Theocentrism is the doctrine that places God as the absolute director of all events in the universe. According to theocentrism, what happens in the world, including the actions of human beings, depends on God .
Theocentrists explain reality based on divine will : everything is subordinated to God . Science , in this framework, remains in the background because any phenomenon, no matter how minimal or insignificant, is ultimately governed by divinity.
For theocentrism, all events - including human acts - depend on God.
Historical development of the doctrine
For many centuries, theocentrism was the predominant doctrine. From the beginning of the Christian era until the beginning of the Renaissance , the different philosophical currents used to place God at the center of the scene. The panorama began to change starting with the Renaissance , when the human being was placed as the central protagonist of the universe.
Precisely because of the primacy of theocentrism in medieval times, it was understood that the most humble classes were, as some historians have determined, not only pessimistic but also subjugated and lacking the spirit of fighting. This was due to the idea that everything was subject to the will of God, that the king was king because he had determined it that way and that nothing could be done to change things.
In the same way, this circumstance would also explain the fact that at that time initiatives were given shape that, in one way or another, offered individuals the power to strengthen their relationship with God, atone for their sins and even be able to secure themselves. that after death they would have a life in absolute peace with the Creator Being. We are referring specifically to what were the pilgrimages to the Camino de Santiago, which are still in force today, and also the creation of different religious orders that were considered to be attached to values such as chastity, obedience or work.
From theocentrism to anthropocentrism
Starting in the 15th century , most currents of thought stopped recognizing God as the sole cause of everything that happens in the universe , but instead began to be considered, only in some cases, as one of several factors.
Theocentrism, in this way, gave way to anthropocentrism , which takes people as the center of events. Anthropocentrism thinks about reality based on the interests and conditions of human beings, unlike theocentrism, which does so based on the presence of God .
Between theocentrism and anthropocentrism lies biocentrism , which takes all living beings as its axis, beyond the human being.