Image of God

The Image of God ( ; tzelem elohim , lit. "image of God", often appearing in Latin as Imago Dei ) is a concept and theological doctrine that asserts that human beings are created in God 's image and therefore have inherent value independent of their utility or function.

The Image of God ( tzelem elohim, lit. "image of God", often appearing in Latin as Imago Dei) is a concept and theological doctrine in Judaism, Christianity, and Sufi Islam, which asserts that human beings are created in God's image.

( Learn how and when to remove this message ) The Image of God ( ; ) is a concept and theological doctrine in Judaism , Christianity , and Sufism of Islam , which asserts that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God . Philosophers and theologians have debated the exact meaning of the phrase for millennia. Following Jewish tradition, scholars such as Saadia Gaon and Philo argued that being made in the Image of God does not mean that God possesses human-like features, but rather that the statement is figurative language for God bestowing special honor unto humankind, which He did not confer unto the rest of Creation. Likewise, Maimonides argues that it is consciousness and the ability to speak which is the "image of God;" both faculties which differentiate mankind from animals, and allow man to grasp concepts and ideas that are not merely instinctual. In Christian thought, the Image of God that was present in Adam at creation was partially lost with the Fall of man and that through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross , humans can be reunited with God. Christian writers have stated that despite the Image of God being partially lost, each person fundamentally has value regardless of class, race, gender or disability. Although the varying interpretations of the exact meaning of being made in the, “Image of God,” are many, the concept is a foundational doctrine of Christianity and Judaism .

Doctrine in Judaism and Christianity The image of God ( ; ; ) is a concept and theological doctrine in Christianity , Islam , as well as in Judaism . This concept is a foundational aspect of Christian and Jewish understandings of human nature. It stems from the primary text in Genesis 1:27, which reads: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female he created them." The exact meaning of the phrase has been debated for millennia. Following Jewish tradition, scholars such as Saadia Gaon and Philo argued that being made in the image of God does not mean that God possesses human-like features , but rather the reverse: that the statement is figurative language for God bestowing special honor unto humankind, which he did not confer unto the rest of creation. The history of interpretation of the image of God has included three common lines of understanding. The Substantive view locates the image of God in shared characteristics between God and humanity such as rationality or morality. A Relational understanding argues that the image is found in human relationships with God and each other. A Functional view interprets the image of God as a role or function whereby humans act on God’s behalf and serve to represent God in the created order. These three views are not strictly competitive and can each offer insight into how humankind resembles God. The doctrine of the image of God provides important grounding for the development of human rights and the dignity of each human life regardless of class, race, gender, or disability. The doctrine is also related to conversations about the human body.