Becoming Human

John Behr's "Becoming Human" emerged from his conviction that contemporary discussions of human nature have lost touch with the profound Christian understanding of what it means to be human. Writing as Dean of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Behr addresses the modern crisis of anthropology by returning to patristic sources, particularly the Cappadocian Fathers and John Chrysostom, to recover a vision of humanity that transcends both ancient philosophical categories and modern reductionism.

Behr argues that humans are not static beings with a fixed nature but creatures called to become what they are intended to be through participation in the life of God. Drawing heavily on Gregory of Nazianzus and other Eastern Fathers, he demonstrates that the image of God in humanity is not a possession but a calling—humans bear the image precisely as they grow into the likeness of God through theosis. The work interweaves theological reflection with artistic imagery, using icons and other visual representations to illuminate how the Eastern tradition has understood human transformation. Behr shows that this becoming fully human is achieved not through individual effort but through incorporation into Christ's Body, where personal identity is paradoxically found through self-transcendence and communion with others.

This work has continued to influence contemporary theological anthropology by offering a compelling alternative to both secular humanism and individualistic Christianity. Behr's integration of patristic theology with visual culture has proven particularly valuable for those seeking to engage modern questions about human dignity and identity from within the Orthodox tradition. Who should read this: theologians and students interested in Eastern Orthodox anthropology, those grappling with questions of human nature and divine calling, and readers drawn to the intersection of theology and visual culture. This is not an introductory text and assumes familiarity with patristic thought.