What is the Christian concept of the imago dei? How might it be important to healthcare, and why is it relevant?

What is the Christian concept of the imago dei? How might it be important to healthcare, and why is it relevant?

Reply to 2 answers below, 1 reply should be half of the page with 1 or more reference.

First answer:

Christians’ understanding of Imago dei or “the image of God” is that “human beings are created in the image of God which confer dignity and honor on every person, regardless of their social, mental or physical status (Shelly & Miller, 2006). To support this belief, Christians often refer to Genesis 1:26-27 in the bible that reads, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”(Religious Facts, 2017) Knowing that we are all created in the image of God helps reiterate the fact in our minds that we are all equal in the sight of God. It brings out the empathy in us and helps us to love one another as God loves us.

The Imago dei is relevant to healthcare as it forms a foundation on which medicine and religion are used to treat human sickness and suffering. It allows medicine and healthcare to become more than just a profession. They are interpreted as a response to God’s calling. Knowing that all human beings are created in the image of God can motivate health care workers to care for each person with respect and dignity. People can be cared for regardless of their diagnosis and not ignored and left to die. Mother Theresa and Christians cared for the sick, the dying, and the poor after being motivated by the fact that we are all created in the image of God. Whenever a society ceased to recognize the image of God in human beings, serious moral decay soon followed (Shelly & Miller, 2006). We have to work through God to take care of the complete physical, social, mental, and spiritual well-being of others.

Second answer:

Imago Dei is also known as the image of God in the Christian religion. Imago Dei is a special imprint that God put on humanity to identify people as a unique creation. There has been debate from decades about what the image of God precisely is and what it implies throughout history and there has been different answers from different denomination. According to Genesis 1: 26-27, God said let us make in our image. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heaven and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them. (Religion facts, 2015).

Christianity has been influenced by four definition of imago Dei:

•          The image of God as similarity. Some said that the imago Dei describe people similarity of God.  Those that share this view focus on the physical similarities people have with God while other extend it to non – physical.
•          The image of God as counterpart others suggest that imago Dei describe people as God’s counterpart in the universe.
•          The image of God as dominion. This describe people dominion over the earth.
•          The image of God as representatives on earth.  This view doesn’t focus as much on God relationship to people, as it does people relationship to others. (Religion facts, 2015).

How might it be important to healthcare?

Man are made in the image of God. Nursing has a unique calling and gift to be use by God, just like the Hebrew midwife. The image of God is the root concept for understanding our purpose in life. God image is a special piece that cause confusion in the practice of medicine because they cannot understand or make sense out of the concept image of God. In health care there are many terminal conditions, we either approach patient as person and assist them or we treat them as patient and then helped them. When we approach people with the conscious that they are person, created in the image of God, they feel love, this greatly enhance the treatment of the patient. As healthcare professional, we are called by God to care for others created in His image, to brings shalom into the lives for whom we care, in response to the grace that the Lord has extended to us. We need to begin with own life. Having a philosophy of caring based in biblical truth will provide a foundation for Christian healthcare. The knowledge of God image helps the nurse not to be striving in their strength that often leads to dissatisfaction and burnout. (Cchf,2012).

The biggest issue in the debate of healthcare reform is cost.  Peter Singer in times magazine article says that it is immoral to apply monetary consideration to saving life. We already put a dollar value on human beings. He rejects the ideas that the good achieved by health care is the number of lives saved. The only viable alternative to this utilitarian and materialist vision is the Imago Dei. Christian belief that man is created in the image of God, in the absence of this belief, every decision about the allocation of healthcare and indeed any areas of life becomes an occasion for the young and strong to impose their will on the on the weak and old. (Chucks,2018).

Imago Dei drove mother Theresa to care for the sick and dying in Calcutta, as it has motivated Christians throughout the centuries and the disenfranchised. (Shelly & Miller,2006). Knowing that human being is created from God moves healthcare workers to want to care for those that are ill and render comfort and peace to the dying.

Also, the concept is relevant to the issue of abortion, in the world of science the unborn is referred to as not formed, pre – human, potential human being. This is not consistence in the of image of God. According to Christianity or scriptures human being are either alive or dead. Whenever a society ceased to recognize the image of God in human being whether in the name of science, political ideology, religion or simply greed, serious moral decay soon followed.