HUMAN PERSON AS AN IMAGE OF GOD

Summary

This video explores the profound concept of humanity as the image of God, emphasizing the symbolic relationship between God and humans, as outlined in Genesis 9:6. Drawing on philosophical and theological perspectives, the video discusses key ideas from St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and other philosophers, highlighting the unique qualities that make humans reflect God's nature. It examines arguments for God's existence, human limitations, and the diversity of beauty reflected in God's creation, urging viewers to recognize the divine in themselves and others while living according to God's image.

Takeaways

• 😀 The concept of 'Image of God' refers to humans being created in God's moral, spiritual, and intellectual nature, not in a literal physical sense.
• 😀 Human beings are unique in creation due to their rationality, which distinguishes them from other animals and reflects God's divinity.
• 😀 Saint Augustine argues that God's existence is absolute and unconditioned, whereas human existence is relative and dependent on a higher power.
• 😀 The phrase 'creation' refers to producing something out of nothing, which is a power attributed only to God, whereas humans 'make' things from existing materials.
• 😀 Saint Thomas Aquinas proposed five arguments for the existence of God, including the argument from motion, causation of existence, and the concept of contingent versus necessary beings.
• 😀 According to Aquinas, everything in motion must be moved by something else, and ultimately, this chain leads to an unmoved mover: God.
• 😀 Aquinas' argument from causation asserts that nothing can cause itself to exist, necessitating the existence of an uncaused cause, which is God.
• 😀 The argument from contingent and necessary beings states that for contingent beings (like humans) to exist, a necessary being (God) must exist to cause their existence.
• 😀 Aquinas' argument from perfection posits that qualities like beauty and goodness exist in varying degrees, but a perfect standard of these qualities is found in God.
• 😀 The argument from intelligent design suggests that the order and beauty in nature indicate that the universe was created by an intelligent designer, who is God.
• 😀 Philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle have diverse views on the nature of God and humanity's relationship with the divine, often emphasizing the importance of striving toward godliness, living according to God's laws, and seeking knowledge of the divine.

Q & A

What does it mean that humans are made in the image of God according to the book of Genesis?

In Genesis, being made in the image of God refers to humans reflecting God's divine qualities in terms of their moral, spiritual, and intellectual nature, rather than physical appearance.

What is the distinction between 'creating' and 'making' as explained in the script?

Creating refers to bringing something into existence out of nothing, which is a power exclusive to God. Making, on the other hand, involves producing something out of existing material, a process humans can engage in due to their limited power.

How does Saint Augustine describe God’s existence in relation to humans?

Saint Augustine describes God as an 'absolute You,' meaning God is unconditioned, eternal, and independent, while human existence is limited and relative, dependent on a higher power (God).

What are Saint Thomas Aquinas' five arguments for the existence of God?

Aquinas' five arguments are: 1) The argument from motion, 2) The argument from causation, 3) The argument from contingent and necessary beings, 4) The argument from perfection, and 5) The argument from intelligent design. These arguments point to an unmoved mover, a necessary being, a perfect standard, and an intelligent designer (God).

What is the 'argument from motion' proposed by Saint Thomas Aquinas?

The argument from motion states that everything in motion is moved by something else, and ultimately, there must be an unmoved mover, which is God.

What is the 'argument from causation' as explained by Saint Thomas Aquinas?

The argument from causation asserts that nothing can cause itself. Therefore, there must be an uncaused cause, which is the origin of all existence, and that uncaused cause is God.

What does the term 'contingent beings' mean in Aquinas’ argument?

Contingent beings are those whose existence depends on something else. Aquinas argues that the existence of contingent beings requires a necessary being, which is God, the source of all existence.

How does the 'argument from perfection' relate to the existence of God?

The argument from perfection posits that the varying degrees of qualities like goodness and beauty in the world point to a perfect standard. This perfect standard is God, the ultimate source of all perfection.

What does Saint Thomas Aquinas mean by the 'argument from intelligent design'?

The argument from intelligent design suggests that the order and complexity of the universe indicate that it was designed by an intelligent being—God. Everything in nature works according to divine laws.

How do different philosophers view the concept of humans as the image of God?

Philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, among others, offer varied views on humanity's relationship to God. For example, Socrates believed the goal of life is to become like God, Plato saw humans as God's 'toys' with a responsibility to live according to divine order, and Aristotle emphasized that humans are social beings reflecting God's image through relationships.

What does Susie Kasim mean when she says, 'If all men are made in God’s reflection, why do some people accept only what is in their part of the mirror?'

Susie Kasim is challenging the idea of racial or cultural superiority. She argues that if all humans are made in God's image, no one race or group should be considered superior to another, and we must stop limiting our understanding of humanity based on appearances.

What does Johnny Erickson Tada’s quote suggest about the way we should view our bodies?

Johnny Erickson Tada emphasizes that our bodies and minds are stamped with God's imprint, and we should accept and love ourselves as God created us. This counters the negative influence of shame, which can distort our view of our bodies and worth.