Imago Dei

What is the Christian concept of the imago Dei?

Imago Dei is a Christian reference that is made to God’s image. In the book of Genesis 1-11, the bible states that all human beings are created in the likeness of God (Simango, 2012). This implies that all human beings bear God’s image despite the numerous differences that exist. The perspective of God’s image differs even among Christians. Some perceive it as relational, others as functional, and the rest as substantive. The substantive perspective emphasizes self-consciousness, capacity to do good, ability to think, mental abilities, and freedom of will. The relational perspective highlights the relationship that man has with God. The functional view emphasizes that man is a representative of the formless God. Regardless of the perspective that an individual subscribes to, it is clear that each individual is worthy and dignified (Simango, The Imago Dei (Gen 1:26-27): a history of interpretation from Philo to the present, 2016).

How might it be important to health care, and why is it relevant?

The human being is a complicated creature that is difficult to compartmentalize. Various aspects, including spiritual, mental, and physical elements, affect the wellbeing of an individual. The three must occur harmoniously for an individual to be healthy. Thus, the concept of Imago Dei is important to health care due to the need to integrate health and faith. The healthcare sector is responsible for ensuring that an individual’s physical and mental health is maintained. This should be done with dignity, as each individual is worthy of respect. A healthcare provider must restore this image to the best of their ability (Huckaby, 2017). Acknowledging this concept by healthcare providers is also important for ensuring that they observe ethics while delivering various procedures that should improve one’s health.

References

Huckaby, D. K. (2017). Integration of Faith and Health Transformation to Wholeness and Restoration to the Imago Dei. Retrieved from https://place.asburyseminary.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2118&context=ecommonsatsdissertations

Simango, D. (2012). The Meaning of the Imago Dei(Gen 1:26-27) in Genesis 1-11. Old Testament Essays, 25(3), 638-656.

Simango, D. (2016). The Imago Dei (Gen 1:26-27): a history of interpretation from Philo to the present. 42. Retrieved from http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1017-04992016000100014

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