Imago Dei Research Articles

The body and the image of God in Bavinck and the Reformed orthodox

Abstract This article examines Herman Bavinck's inclusion of the body in the image of God in comparison with the positions of Reformed orthodox theologians of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It demonstrates that while it is uncommon for earlier figures to consider the body to be properly included within the image, Bavinck's position is not unprecedented and applies lines of reasoning consistent with the tradition's anthropological convictions. First, an embodied imago Dei is advanced by sources such as the Leiden Synopsis and Petrus van Mastricht. Second, the Reformed orthodox in general adhere to the conviction that human beings are a body–soul unity, and that the image of God includes the uprightness of the whole person, positions that lead to the body being related in some way to God's image. Therefore, while Bavinck's account of an embodied image is a unique contribution, it is nonetheless in continuity with the tradition he receives.

Technology and Humanity in Chinese Christian Perspective

Abstract The ideas of transhumanism and Anthropocene supported by contemporary technological developments seem to contradict the Christian understanding of humanity. Based on a review of the relationship between the interpretations of the doctrine of imago Dei and the developments of technology in the Western world, this essay reinterprets the concept of imago Dei in connection with the concept of the “garment of skin” by making references to the Orthodox tradition represented by Maximus the Confessor (579–662). After spelling out its implications for the understanding of the relationship between humanity and technology, this essay explains further how the Confucian understanding of humanity and technology is compatible with and can enrich the Christian understanding. The resultant Chinese Christian understanding of humanity, integrating the traditions of Christian theology and Chinese culture, supports an affirmative and yet critical view of technology and challenges transhumanism and Anthropocene by offering a more adequate and balanced view of technology and humanity.

Research-Based Practices to Engage Youth in a Vibrant Catholic Church: The Case for Implementing Sacred Listening Practices

This article explores the theological and practical implications of Sacred Listening, a concept developed in response to the Synod on Synodality initiated by Pope Francis. The Synod emphasizes the church’s call to a more relational and participatory ecclesial life, rooted in listening, dialogue, and accompaniment. Sacred Listening is proposed as a theologically grounded practice designed to rebuild trust and foster deeper connections within the faith community, particularly in a low-trust environment. Drawing on the theological principles of Imago Dei, as well as contemporary social science research, the article presents Sacred Listening as a means to move beyond traditional modes of institutional authority toward relational trust and authentic engagement. The article further introduces practical tools that operationalize these principles, providing concrete strategies for religious leaders to engage with their communities more effectively. This work contributes to the ongoing theological discourse on synodality and offers a framework for creating a more inclusive and responsive church in today’s complex social landscape.

A Multifaceted Model of the Imago Dei Based on Thomistic Love

A Multifaceted Model of the Imago Dei Based on Thomistic Love

Is Artificial Intelligence Capable of Love through Self-Sacrifice?

In light of the Theology Today editorial “Will There Be Anything Left for Us?” by Gordon S. Mikoski, which briefly discusses the nature of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we further the conversation by providing a reflective theological framework to help interpret the human–AI relationship. We contend that agape love through the capacity for loving self-sacrifice is a feature of humankind that manifests our intrinsic nature as imago Dei. Based on this contention, AI would unlikely be able to self-sacrifice for agape love because it either can only be programmed to “self-sacrifice” or would not fully understand the nature of self-sacrifice, either of which would just be a semblance of agape love.

Because of Who We Are: A Fresh Perspective on Calvin’s Doctrine of the Image of God and Human Dignity

Scholars have connected Calvin’s idea of the imago Dei with the modern concept of inherent human dignity. Others have emphasized how Calvin tried to use the image of God to promote the significance of human dignity without connecting it with political theories. These arguments may be justifiable to some extent. However, my concern is that these scholars focus on the image of God in others rather than on how it transforms individuals who live out its renewal. For Calvin, the restoration of the image of God by the Holy Spirit aimed at enabling a holy and righteous life. In his thought, this life was marked by visible excellence, reflected in social virtues expressed toward others. Based on these insights, I show that, according to Calvin, treating others with dignity, honor, and love is not only made possible by recognizing them as bearers of God’s image but is primarily driven by the renewal of God’s image within those who display these actions and attitudes through the work of the Spirit. This fresh perspective on Calvin’s doctrine of the image of God and human dignity can be presented by analyzing Calvin’s pneumatological account of the imago Dei.

Covenantal Care: Nursing with God's Love and Justice.

With resources stretched thin and the growing risk of compassion fatigue, faith beliefs can offer enriching perspectives for nurses. Covenantal care is a nursing approach rooted in theological insights about humanity's inherent purpose to engage in relationship with God and actively participate in acts of love and justice. Based upon interpretations of Judeo-Christian teachings of imago Dei and God's covenant with humankind, this approach provides guidance for the nurse to care for self, patients, and the wider community. This exploration of theology-in-practice provides an orientating ethos for nurses that reflects the loving, restorative, and dignified care that is at the heart of the Christian faith.

The ‘image of God’ and the schooling of virtue: Christian-ethos schools of character for the whole community

ABSTRACT This article reports how the Judeo-Christian belief that all persons are ‘made in God’s image’ (imago Dei) leads to an egalitarian and generous evaluation of children and young people educated in a group of Christian-ethos schools with no ‘faith-test’ for admission in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of the north of England. The inclusiveness of Christian humanist perspectives, ancient and modern, conceiving of imago Dei as the divine gift of moral virtue, underpins the model of character education evaluated here. Drawing on a tradition of generous Christian humanism is seen to equip these Christian-ethos schools to provide students of all faiths and none with an inclusive education of character. Baptising neo-Aristotelian virtue ethics underpinning character education and repristinating shared virtues also avoids privileging either confessional Christian nurture or pervasively secular character education and are relevant more widely.

Theology of migration: From division to reconciliation

As the next US presidential election approaches, immigration once again emerges as one of the most heated issues in US political debates. While ideological differences over immigration are not new, the existence of such differing positions between and within parties highlights the deep-seated divisions within US society. Even more problematic is the current predominant narrative of immigration, which tends to foster further division while ignoring the diversity of immigration patterns and immigrants’ experiences that require holistic approaches. The dominance of a monolithic interpretation of immigration, focusing on a specific pattern and accompanied by the reproduction of provocative images and rhetoric in the media, exacerbates societal divisions and reinforces a single narrative of immigration characterized by hate and fear. In the face of societal division over immigration, this article argues that immigration can be a source of reconciliation rather than division when its inherent diversity is recognized, and its humanness is reclaimed through the concept of imago Dei, the primary definition of all human identity.

Pope Francis’ Vision and Whole Child Education, Part II: Exploring the Foundational Beliefs of Imago Dei, Magis, and Dios en Todo

This paper expands the response to Pope Francis’ invitation to dialogue on how educators can help shape the future of the planet by focusing on integral human development. This paper expands on the thinking of Warner, Wyttenbach, and McMahon [2023. “Pope Francis’ Vision and Whole Child Education: Exploring the Foundational Beliefs of Cura Personalis and Accompaniment.” The Review of Faith & International Affairs 21 (1): 15–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/15570274.2023.2177453], who offered a theological examination of two primary beliefs of whole child education—accompaniment and cura personalis. Adding to the theological foundations of whole child education, in this paper we offer further discussion on three additional beliefs of whole child education—Imago Dei (we are all made in the image and likeness of God), magis (striving for more, and seeing God in all things), and Dios en todo (God in all things). These two papers advance Pope Francis’ vision for integral human development and a framework for whole child education that practitioners and scholars can attend to in their practice and research.

“Education as the Art of Making Oneself at Home in the World with and Through Others”: The Call to Bildung in Meister Eckhart and the Film Of Gods and Men

This paper explores the mystical structure of education as Bildung in medieval theologian and Dominican friar Meister Eckhart’s work and the 2010 French film Of Gods and Men (Des Hommes et Des Dieux). I start this paper with a short introductory sketch of the Bildung tradition, in order to situate my discussion of Eckhart within the more well-known humanist tradition. Here, I claim that Bildung (as we understand it today through the classic Bildung philosophers) points back to its theological heritage and horizon of meaning, when it is claimed as the general tekhnê (art, craft) of making oneself at home in the world with and through others. In my first step, I then explore the intellectual heritage of this mystical structure of Bildung. Drawing on a range of Meister Eckhart’s writings (esp. his German sermons), I elaborate three features pivotal to his concept of Bildung (as image-ing) of the imago Dei (image of God) in the human soul/action: (1) divine grace, (2) human cultivation and (3) the harmonisation of both in (what I shall call) ‘careful gestures'. In my concluding second step, I illustrate this mystical structure of Eckhartian Bildung—with a particular focus on the emergence of careful gestures—through the motion picture Des Hommes et Des Dieux.

The Imago Dei and the Market Economy: Libertarian Tensions in Michael Novak’s Political Theology

The paper explores Michael Novak’s understanding of the human person and his normative case for the market economy, specifically its points of agreement and tension with natural rights libertarianism. For Michael Novak, the imago dei provides the strongest account for the relationship between the market economy, human dignity, and natural rights. Rationalistic attempts, such as those within libertarianism, cannot adequately ground human dignity or sustain free institutions capable of serving the common good, the market economy, and political liberty. However, Novak’s affinity to his libertarian interlocutors presents an opportunity for dialogue on the necessity of economic freedom and related theological influences on natural rights theory for securing human flourishing.

Toward a Theology of Compassionate Release: Orthodox Christianity and the Dilemma of Assisted Dying. Confronting End-of-Life Realities with Faith and Compassion

This article examines the subtle interconnection between the sanctity of life and individual autonomy within the context of assisted dying, as seen through the lens of Orthodox Christianity. It seeks to unravel the complex theological, ethical, and pastoral considerations that inform the Orthodox stance on end-of-life issues, particularly the nuanced understanding of suffering, death, and the redemptive potential encapsulated within them. Orthodox theology, with its profound veneration for life as a divine gift, offers a counter-narrative to contemporary discourses that often prioritize personal autonomy and the alleviation of suffering above all. This tradition emphasizes the transformative power of suffering when united with Christ’s own redemptive suffering, proposing a vision of end-of-life care that is rooted in compassion, dignity, and hope for resurrection. The exploration begins with a historical and theological examination of the Orthodox perspective on life’s sanctity, engaging with the teachings of Church Fathers and contemporary theological and bioethical discussions. It highlights the foundational concepts of Orthodox anthropology, which perceives human beings as an indivisible unity of body and soul, reflecting the imago Dei. This anthropological understanding challenges reductionist views of human existence and informs the Orthodox approach to medical ethics, palliative care, and the spiritual accompaniment of the dying. By critically evaluating arguments for and against assisted dying, the article presents a balanced discourse that respects the depth of individual suffering while upholding the intrinsic value of life. It argues that Orthodox Christianity, through its rich theological heritage and pastoral practice, provides a compassionate and ethically nuanced framework for navigating the moral complexities of assisted dying. This framework advocates for an end-of-life care that honors the fullness of the human person, supports the spiritual journey toward eternal life, and fosters a communal embrace of life’s sacred threshold, offering a dignified passage that aligns with the faith’s deepest convictions about human destiny and divine grace.

Imago Dei and Soul

Today, it is highly controversial in Western societies, that humans are made in the image of God (“imago Dei”). This article is looking for a unique feature of man that can justify his special position. The methodological approach consists of contrasting research results and social developments documented in current publications with modern theological and philosophical publications. Our intelligence and the fact that we are self-aware are no longer sufficient as a unique human feature, because biology, palaeoanthropology and computer technology call it into question. This article shows that the soul remains the unique feature of the human being. But often no clear distinction is made between the transcendent soul and the immanent mind. The article therefore emphasises that the soul is transcendent, eternal and a gift of God from transcendence. In order to achieve this, we must abandon the bipartition of man into body and soul and accept the tripartite division of man into body, mind and soul. The transcendence of the soul provides us with a justification for why humans and only humans are “imago Dei”. This gives us a basis for claiming the right of every human being for life and personal realisation.

Applying the Imago Dei Using Agency Theory: An Intuitive Active Learning Exercise for the Management Classroom

A management instructor and a religion instructor collaborated to create an instructional exercise for the application of agency theory using the theological concept of the Imago Dei. The result is a simple method for management instructors to help business students understand the roles of a manager from a biblical worldview. The attributes of God and the imago Dei are common elements of most Christian traditions but are often difficult concepts to introduce to undergraduate students as they apply to management theory. This exercise offers an intuitive approach for management instructors using agency theory.

Inaugurated eschatology from a transgender perspective

Many people who identify as transgender, experience discrimination, stigma and societal marginalisation as if they are not really human beings created in the image of God. This article argues for more acceptance of transgender people within a Christian world view. I contend that gender and the imago Dei can make room for more inclusivity and inherent human dignity for all people. Transgender identity, the idea of inaugurated eschatology as ‘already/not yet’ with the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the restoration of God’s image, and the acceptance of transgender individuals in God’s Kingdom will be focussed on. Inaugurated eschatology enlightens us on who we are in Christ. The topic focusses on transgender issues in relation to inaugurated eschatology and its effects on transgender roles within the Christian faith community. The nature of the research is qualitative and descriptive, either contradicting or supporting different views on transgender and inaugurated eschatology.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: To encourage discussion and deeper exploration of the concepts of transgenderism and inaugurated eschatology that could contribute to more inclusivity and inherent human dignity for all people in the fields of theology, gender studies, politics, philosophy, history and psychology.

A Theological Reflection of ‘Imago Dei’ as a Response to ‘LGBTQ’ Advocates

The paper aims to engage a theological reflection of Imago Dei as a response to some of the claims of the LGBTQ movement. The reason is consequent to one of the Postmodern challenges, which is an assault challenging the sex of human beings as either male or female. There are arguments for and against the notion that people are created either gay, bisexual, transgender, or straight, for which some are advocating for equal rights and recognition. The paper examined the LGBTQ concept and some of the claims of its advocates. With an analytical approach, the paper submits that being gay, lesbian, or transgender is a choice premised on distorted thinking patterns that have nothing to do with natural inclination. The paper concluded by affirming that human beings as the image of God imply the substantive, relational and functional purposes of humanity, which can only be achieved in two sexes, male and female, making up the whole of humanity for marriage, family life, and community. The implication is that the Church should be intentional in the promotion of sexual education according to biblical teachings.

God’s Gift of Science: Theological Presuppositions Underlying Exploration of the Natural World

God’s Gift of Science: Theological Presuppositions Underlying Exploration of the Natural World

Desmond Tutu's Spirituality of Protest

Abstract: This essay interprets Desmond Mpilo Tutu's practice of protest as a spiritual practice in light of his regular participation in other spiritual practices such as prayer, silence, and Eucharist. Connecting these spiritual practices to his theologies of ubuntu and the imago Dei , I demonstrate that Tutu's life of protest was an expression of his spirituality and that his example challenges sharp distinctions between the "political" and the "spiritual." Rather, spirituality understood in the key of Tutu's ubuntu theology is always already political.

God’s Gift of Science: Theological Presuppositions Underlying Exploration of the Natural World

God’s Gift of Science: Theological Presuppositions Underlying Exploration of the Natural World