anthropopathy Definition
the attribution of human feelings, passions, or characteristics to God or other non-human things.
Using anthropopathy: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "anthropopathy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The ancient Greeks believed in anthropopathy, which is why their gods were often depicted with human emotions and behaviors.
Example
The Bible uses anthropopathic language to describe God's actions, such as when it says that God 'repents' or 'regrets.'
Example
Anthropopathy is a common literary device used in poetry and fiction to make non-human characters more relatable to readers.
Origins of anthropopathy
from Greek 'anthrōpopatheia', from 'anthrōpo-' (human) + '-patheia' (suffering)
Summary: anthropopathy in Brief
'Anthropopathy' [an-thruh-puh-puh-thee] is a noun that refers to the attribution of human feelings, passions, or characteristics to God or other non-human things. This concept has been present in various cultures throughout history, including ancient Greece and the Bible. Anthropopathy is also a common literary device used in poetry and fiction to make non-human characters more relatable to readers.