Well i read that god created man in his own image, but the very image of god that we recognize is of a being of pure energy and light, who is mysterious and all knowing with a streak of benevolence about him, this sure as heck doesn't sound like the mankind i know?
2007-01-02 16:22:36 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The simplest answer is The creating Spirit created man with the potential to develop into persons like Himself.
Apparently from your discription we as yet have missed the mark.
2007-01-02 17:30:38 · answer #1 · answered by Bullfrog21 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christian theologians have discussed what the "image of God" also known as the "imago dei" actually is. There are a few major answers/stances:
1) Structuralist: The "image" is a definite characteristic humans have (such as reason, emotions, a body, etc.)
2) Functional: The "image" is something we do (like have dominion over the earth)
3) Relational: The "image" consists in the fact that we can have relationships.
I personally think the best answer to what the "imago dei" is is that it is a combination of #1 and #3. It is a definite characteristic we have - the characteristic of being relational.
2007-01-03 00:33:05 · answer #2 · answered by Jackson 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Whereas references to images in the Bible frequently relate to idolatry, this is not always the case. God, in creating man, said first, “Let us make man in our image [or, shadow, semblance], according to our likeness.” (Ge 1:26, 27, ftn) Since God’s Son stated that his Father is “a Spirit,” this rules out any physical likeness between God and man. (Joh 4:24) Rather, man has qualities reflecting, or mirroring, those of his heavenly Maker, qualities that positively distinguish man from the animal creation. (See ADAM No. 1.) Though in the image of his Creator, man was not made to be an object of worship, or veneration.
2007-01-03 00:37:58 · answer #3 · answered by Just So 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is very tough, especially if you want to take the bible literally on everything. If you look at the second creation story. Yes, there are two in Genesis. It is stated that god created man, breathed the first breath of live into him, and proclaimed him to be alive.
If you are going to take the bible literally, that passage says to me that a person is not alive until they take their first breath. Kind of eliminates ever pro-lifers argument that fetus' are living people in utero.
In the bible, after Cain kills Abel, god proclaims that if any man spills another man's blood, let the men around him spill his blood as well. Seems to me that all the people who feel the death penalty is going against god's word are not listening to everything god supposedly had to say.
2007-01-03 00:35:31 · answer #4 · answered by digsrocknroll 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God created man in His image not in exact likeness - we are not a copy of God we are similar to God in our make up - it is more like a human making a statue of a person - the statue is in the image of the man but not exactly like the man
2007-01-03 07:39:37 · answer #5 · answered by servant FM 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well first of all if anyone said they knew exactly what this text means would probably be lying. I do believe, however, we can reasonably figure out what this text may possibly refer to.
First it probably refers to attributes. There are certain attributes of mankind that are common with God.
Basically I think it is God's desire for us to be like him. Ephesians 5, says that we are to be imitators of God. Galatians 3:26-27, say that when we are baptized we become "clothed with Christ." Phil. 2, tells us to have the attitude of Christ.
Also, I believe that Ancient Mespotamian culture believed that gods had certain mankind physical features. Therefore, this text may also be a reference to a culture understanding of what God may have looked like.
2007-01-03 00:36:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think we all have a light from God inside of us and it is because of this light that we are immortal and our spirits cannot die. God is love and all humans have the need to give and receive love. We are all far from being completely like God but that is why we have to work at it slowly all our lives. I believe that after we are dead and are free from these bodies, our spirits will easily be able to be much more like God.
2007-01-03 00:48:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
How's this?:
God had an image in his mind of exactly how he wanted man to be.
He spoke it into existence, and man was created, exactly as he had earlier imagined him to be.
Man was good, and God was pleased (he liked man).
Hence, mankind was created in the image and according to the likeness of God.
2007-01-03 01:19:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
*smile* a very good question and I agree. The bible does say that God stated "let us make man in our image". So your description of God is accurate. But we must remember, when God created Adam, Adam was perfect, that was before the "fall". What we see in the mirror now is a reflection of eons of fallen men and women.
2007-01-03 00:26:36 · answer #9 · answered by Esther 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I firmly agree with Mountain,and that God stated this before Adam & Eve became imperfect by eating the apple of the Tree of Knowledge,God Bless
2007-01-03 00:30:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋