That particular dictum - that ‘God’ looks like a (hu)man - seems to be one of the most anthropomorphic, inane, self-serving, and silly statements in the history of ridiculous statements.
Why would a ‘God’ as defined by religions themselves - immortal, infinite, almighty, spanning all of space time and beyond etc. - then feature ears, teeth, hair, nostrils for crying out loud, whatever, is absolutely slapstick.
If there is indeed a God, then maybe It looks like some kind of multi-dimensional orb of light, or some wave-like something or vibe we cannot so easily perceive with our coarse and severely limited sensory apparatus, or maybe like the whole universe or multiverse would look like if we could somehow see throughout the EM spectrum, but like some bearded old man? What a sad-sack, braindead joke.
That particular dictum - that ‘God’ looks like a (hu)man - seems to be one of the most anthropomorphic, inane, self-serving, and silly statements in the history of ridiculous statements.
Why would a ‘God’ as defined by religions themselves - immortal, infinite, almighty, spanning all of space time and beyond etc. - then feature ears, teeth, hair, nostrils for crying out loud, whatever, is absolutely slapstick.
If there is indeed a God, then maybe It looks like some kind of multi-dimensional orb of light, or some wave-like something or vibe we cannot so easily perceive with our coarse and severely limited sensory apparatus, or maybe like the whole universe or multiverse would look like if we could somehow see throughout the EM spectrum, but like some bearded old man? What a sad-sack, braindead joke.
The image of God for a human refers to the spirit and soul not to the body, which originates from and returns to earth.
Truly I have no idea, and seeing human practices, it is hard for me to believe that the nowadays image is not a poor intellectual photoshop( without any intention to offense any body‘s beliefs which are all fully respectful) We as humans have to upgrade our behavior to merit becoming as reasonably close as possible to the ideal Gods image.
Reading this question, the answer seems to be straightforward: we were made Gods. We are God! All the Universe would be without any meaning without humans because we are the only image of God and even if we were priests we would be closer that God.
Christians believe that Jesus Christ (who is God) was taken his proper image, i.e. human to visit us in the Earth. The logic tell us that he would remain among us if we were actually a pure image of God, but it seems that we are not. It seems that we have here a non sense life with illness, poverty, wars, ignorance, etc...when His image could avoid if it were more realitic.
In my religion we believe that humans have limited abilities compared to God, so we can not perceive or imagine the form of the God
regards
God created man and made him in the most beautiful image, and that is the saying I created you in the best calendar so we must thank God for this great creation
We love because God first loved us. We show kindness because He showed it to both the good and bad. Indeed, we exhibit the wonderful traits of God in smaller measures because we were created in His image.
I think it is vice-versa (Sorry ) . Look at the images Prof ...
As I always say - To be god or devil is easy, being(staying) human is tough !!!
What does it mean for humans to be created in the image of God? Why?
I'm sharing the following based on the notion of creationism and not evolutionism. From the above question - It means there is a relationship between the construct of man & God. The common denominator is the Spirit. Because part of man is spirit (beside body & soul) and God Himself is a Spirit (John 4:24). Our spirit can pray to God, have faith in Him, worship Him & have communion / quiet time with Him etc.
Dig deeper from the phrase, man is from God or God exists first before man & God created man. Do we ever ask why God created us according to His image & not based on other image(s)? Because God is perfect and He wants us to inherit His perfectness but at the same time He also gave us free will i.e. we can choose to believe in Him or not etc. rather than creating a pre-programmed robot. Moreover, this relationship also remind us that we were from Him so that we don't forget our root & when we face problems / issues, we can go back to Him for peace & solution.
Image of God. ... tzelem Elohim; Latin: Imago Dei) 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.
Mauro Biglino, an italian writer (expert in history of religions and Hebrew language translator), would probably answer that we (homo sapiens, as far as the taxonomical definition of modern humans is concerned) are the mere outcome of a series of genetic engineering experiments carried out by the so-called "Elohim" (plural), ancient astronauts who reached our planet and started progressively mixing their DNA with the one of the inhabitants (see also Sendy, Däniken, Sitchin). In other terms, "in the image of God" would banally mean that we resemble, both anatomically and mentally, the aliens (Elohim) whose habits, sometimes anything but consistent with the word "God", are accurately described in the Old Testament (Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia), as long as it is literaly translated.
To be created in God's image one has to strive to be like God because we His own
The task of our life is to follow the divine spark in our soul; we have to put our talents to the service of our creator and not to concentrate on self-enrichment.
Dear Kirk,
All these questions you ask can be answered in a catequesis in the Catholic church. But a catequesis presupposes the intention to be united more narrowly with God in his Church, for example to receive sacraments.
Using a hermeneutical perspective, perhaps we could define or examine the term, "image" as it was understood at the time this statement was constructed?
The concept that we were created in the image of GOD cannot be interpreted by logical or philosophical means nor by scientific interpretations [for the things of GOD are foolishness unto man]
But in a more simple way based on my belief, GOD decided to create something that will have free-will to worship HIM and will have the capacity to create things the way HE always do. So, HE created man in HIS own image and after HIS own likeness [this mainly refer to the spirit that lives in a container called body]. This is what makes us different from animals.
If you put all your intellectual prowess on evolution theory, you can never believe that you were made in the image of GOD, by extension, you are a gorilla turned modern man
All the children around the world behave the same way of loving others, helping each others and not worrying about the future. This is for me the Image of God.
Kirk, much more likely, the other way around. Humans create their gods in their own image. In mainstream, monotheistic religions, that one God is made to impersonate everything with think is just and good about people. And by the way, over time, this idea of what's best in human nature has been changing. Which is why the older parts of the Old Testament sound awfully harsh, today.
And by the way, in my opinion, this ties back to your other question about the nature of the soul. People create all of their inventions in their own image, not just the gods. Our machines, buildings, works of art, are created in our image too. We give them an aesthetic, we give them personalities, we want them to resonate with something, more than just being a chunk of matter.
In my views, human created in the image of God means that:
1. Human can recognize and love their creator (God)
2. Human is a "personal/someone", and not "something"
3. Human created for caring and using the nature well, then serving God.
4. Mystery of Human can be recognized only by the mystery of "God's Words" that become Human being.
5. Human being is a "soul", although consists of physical body.
Whenever God chooses to show up in dreams or trance or physical manifestation He does appear in human form thereby proving that God is in the image of man and in His image created He man. An conceptually any thing that can appear to man in a trance or dream has a being or physical existence in this life or hereafter. I wrote from from personal experience which I have subjected to proofs that came out real.
Dear H Chris Ransford, God is simply the Ancient of Days, THE I AM THAT I AM, the Alpha and Omega, etc, who humbled Himself to reach man in His own image and have been appearing to prophets and men of God in human form. I have seen Him one morning in glory in a trance been carried by clouds to come before me and I could not stand before Him.
Dear Stephen I. Ternyik/ Jack Son, I concur with both of you. However, God is so real to e because I saw Him one morning in Lagos, Nigeria, in a trance and I could not stand before Him.I put Him to tests to prove Himself based on what I saw and that if indeed it was Him who showed up that morning in glory in an ordered series, and He proved to me that it was Him who appeared to me that morning been carried by chariot of clouds in glory! If you doubt contact me on tel no:+234-8037876614; emaito:[email protected], for further explanation.
Beloved Han Ping Fung, God is right by creating man in His own image and likeness because it gives Him pleasure to behold His look alike just as a father does to his son! Besides, He loves man too. We are indeed small gods according to the Bible
Furthermore, HC Ransford, that is why He is God! Man cannot understand the things of God except assisted by Holy Spirit, they are foolishness to man!
1) In God's Image: Myth, Theology, and Law in Classical Judaism, Yair Lorberbaum,
ISBN-13: 978-1107063273 and ISBN-10: 1107063272;
2) INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION, COMMUNION AND STEWARDSHIP:
Human Persons Created in the Image of God, http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20040723_communion-stewardship_en.html
Catechism of the Catholic Church
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a1.htm
3) The Image of God in the Qur’an, Mohammad Ali Shomali and Mahnaz Heydarpoor, https://www.al-islam.org/image-god-quran-mohammad-ali-shomali-mahnaz-heydarpoor
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