This issue has inspired much debate in modern theological study. For example, in The First Coming, Thomas Sheehan makes the argument that Jesus never considered himself divine, and that his elevation to godhood was a strategem by the struggling first-century church. But there is, of course, abundant evidence on the other side as well.
The differences being, though, being that in Shintoism humans aren’t particularly important. Trees are often worshipped as Shintoism values life greatly and anything that lives for over 800 years has to be very pure and worthy of worship. Also, greatness isn’t achieved by spiritual practice but by simple excellence. That’s where you get slightly erroneous belief in the west that sumo wrestlers are seen as demi-gods. They’re men of extra-ordinary strength and that makes them great, from a religious point of view. The same thing can be said of great artists, businessmen, rulers, etc. The emperor’s link to divine purity is really a special case that wasn’t even all that central until the Meiji era.
I’m reminded of Zen Buddhists’ favourite Christian, master Eckhart’s “The eye by which I see God is the same as the eye by which God sees me.” Of course, he wasn’t claiming that he, personally, was God.
Ah, but once you add the “I think” the rest of the sentence is an indirect statement. I think that I am becoming a god." The grammatically correct way to say this would be "Vae, puto me deum fieri. According to Suetonius the quote is “Vae” (inquit) “puto, deus fio”. This is just more colloquial and conversational, literally: "Woe, " (he said) “I think, I am becoming a god.” More like two unconnected ideas than a full out indirect statement. Let’s forgive the guy, he was on his death bed and as a native speaker I’m sure he knew how to say it best.
You are right, btw, that fieri can take a predicate nominative just like esse.
[iend hijack]
Nope. He was only nicknamed (or nicknamed himself, don’t remember) the “sun king”.
I think you will find that many less than sane people believe they are a god. As I understand it, numerous people announce this in Jerusalem in particular (they call it “Jerusalem syndrome” if I recall the guidebook correctly).
Whether there is any difference between these persons and the others who have received more widespread credit for being a god is debatable.
The Rev. Jim Jones, the guy that moved his congregation to British Guiana and had them drink poisoned cool-aid?
I don’t recall if he was reported to claim to be God, but it’s God’s business to decide when anyone dies. Not any person’s.
Pharaohs were notorious for this. According to the Qur’an, Pharaoh proclaimed: “Ana rabbukum al-a‘la” (I am your Lord the Most High).
A very topical news story just showed up on Yahoo!
It should be noted that, especially once you get out of any monotheistic mindset, the word God (or god, if you prefer) can be defined just about however you want it. Being non-religious, I can easily call myself god and be just as correct as anyone else, and I don’t even need to be crazy to do it.
Merriam-Webster also has some interesting definitions of the word:
The Mona Lisa is god. George W. Bush is god.
I’ve been researching this a bit and the article is really good but I don’t see any references to anyone who actually lived. There is a section for humans, and Mayahuel is listed, but it seems she only existed in mythology. Know any for sure?