A good deal of theology, and indeed much of our worship, pivots on the assumption that the theologian is addressing an individuated, experiencing, cognitively able self, perceived as a reasoning, thinking, independent, decision-making being.
This cognitively able self is assumed to have the potential to know and understand certain things about God - a God who is available at an intellectual level through such things as Scripture, revelation, prayer, or by means of some or other form of communicable spiritual experience. Knowledge of God, sin, salvation, discipleship, sanctification, justification - they all tend to be assumed to relate to a fully cognisant being who can understand certain things, avoid or engage in certain activities and ways of thinking and who is able to make particular choices which have positive or negative implications and consequences for now and into eternity.
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