Metanoia (theology)
In Christianity, the Greek philosophical concept of metanoia has become linked with Christian prayer, in which a prostration is called a metanoia, with "the spiritual condition of one's soul being expressed through the physical movement of falling facedown before the Lord" as seen in the biblical passages of Matthew 2:11, Luke 5:12, and Luke 17:15–16.
[2] All three synoptic gospels refer to "metanoia", as does the Acts of the Apostles, and there are a number of occasions in the New Testament letters where the word is used.
Toba means regret, grief, and sorrow over sinful deeds that lead to a change of mind and life.
"[5] "Conversion" (from the Latin conversiōn-em turning round) with its "change in character" meaning is more nearly the equivalent of metanoia than repentance.
[12] In opposition to the Church's interpretation of metanoia as comprising contrition, confession, and penances, Martin Luther objected that it retained its classical sense of "a change of mind.
The meaning of the word, for Calvin, is appropriate to both derivations because repentance (a) involves "withdrawing from ourselves", (b) turning to God, (c) "laying aside the old", and (d) putting on "a new mind".
Walden believed the meaning of metanoia as a "transmutation" of consciousness contrasted with classical Greek which he viewed as expressing a superficial change of mind.
[25] Robertson lamented the fact that in his time there was no English word that signified the meaning of the Greek μετάνοια (metanoia).
[30] Three of the ten top-selling versions and another in the top-ten based on dollar sales attempt to capture the meaning of metanoia.
In its Confirmation exegesis, the Minnehaha United Methodist Church of Minneapolis, Minnesota notes,Metanoia is used to refer to the change of mind which is brought about in repentance.
The word metanoia has taken on an in-vogue usage among interfaith dialogues as simply meaning "a change of heart".
Yet repent carries with it a negative tone, almost an inhibition caused by guilt; metanoia forces a positive, proactive life-affirming response.
When Jesus calls people to "repent", to "metanoia", could it be that he means: "Change your thought processes and go beyond your mind's present state of limitations"?
"[36] Ulrich Wilckens finds in Peter's sermon in Acts 2:38–40 as narrated by Luke the Evangelist, six steps that are required for a person's salvation.
[38][39] Oriental Orthodox Christians, such as Copts, incorporate metanoias in their prayers that are performed facing eastward in anticipation of the Second Coming of Jesus, making metanoias thrice in the name of the Trinity; at the conclusion of every Psalm (when saying ‘Alleluia’); and forty-one times for the Kyrie eleisons (cf.
[38][40] Syriac Orthodox and Indian Orthodox Christians, as well as Christians belonging to the Mar Thoma Syrian Church (an Oriental Protestant denomination), make multiple metanoias at the seven fixed prayer times during which the canonical hours are prayed, thrice during the Qauma prayer, at the words "Crucified for us, Have mercy on us!
[43] Among Old Ritualists, a prayer rug known as the Podruchnik is used to keep one's face and hands clean during metanoias, as these parts of the body are used to make the sign of the cross.
[4] When personified, Metanoia was a figure of unclear description who accompanied Kairos, the god of Opportunity, and ultimately inspired human individuals to deep changes in their normal consciousness modes; a feeling of personal regret would provide the emotional catalyst to approach life with a substantially different perspective.
"Regret, reflection, and transformation are always present in the concept of metanoia to some degree,” writes scholar Kelly Myers.
