Original Research - Special Collection: SASRF What it means to be human?

Are we special? A critique of imago Dei

Wessel Bentley
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 73, No 3 | a4524 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i3.4524 | © 2017 Wessel Bentley | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 13 February 2017 | Published: 26 June 2017

About the author(s)

Wessel Bentley, Research Institute for Theology and Religion, University of South Africa, South Africa

Abstract

‘Are we special?’ In response to this question, Christian theology has traditionally sought comfort in the notion that humanity is created in the image of God. In light of modern scientificknowledge, is this self-understanding still feasible? Are there different ways in which imago Dei can be understood? Is it possible for imago Dei to be both grounded in its Christian heritage,while also being helpful in the science and religion conversation? This article criticallyexamines the notion of  imago Dei and proposes an interpretation that could be credible andacceptable to both science and Christian anthropology.

Keywords

Imago Dei; Evolution; Human distinctiveness

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