I'm not a christian, as you all probably know from my nick, lol.
But my question is this, the bible says that humans were created in his image.
Humanity will always lead itself to self-destruction. We are lazy, don't understand how to achieve global peace so we're stupid, we can be very unethical, have low morals, become criminals etc.....
So god is lazy, stupid, and has low morals? We is being used as the average person, so one say "hey i'm not lazy" please...
How can we say that we were created in his image, it should be an insult to say so.
[This message was edited by Katelyn on 02-26-06 at 04:52 PM.]
PunjabiPrince, Did you want this to be an open-ended discussion on humanity being made in God's image, or did you want to debate whether or not people are made in God's image? If the former, let me know and I'll move this to General Discussion; if the latter, let me know and I will change your title to reflect this. Thanks!
------------------------- "The sleep of reason produces monsters." ~Francisco de Goya
Posts: 3489 | Location: United States | Registered: 03-17-02
If God wanted us all to be the same he would have made us all believe in him. He would have made us all non criminals. But he wanted all of us to be different and so we are. So when the bible says in his image, he wanted us to be different. When we die then we choose weather we want forgiveness or not. Yes we all lie, but God knows that no human is perfect, because he made us different then him.
"Glass, China and reputation are easily cracked and never well mended" ---By Benjamin Franklin In honer of his 300th birthday
Posts: 622 | Location: Tionesta Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: 09-22-05
Pretty tough topic to debate because it has so many layers.
For one, what is God's image? Is it its physical appearance? Can God be seen? Or is it in likeness to its personality and character?
Are humans really endowed with the characteristics involved, or did they gradually develope them?
I'm assuming that the discussion is the fact that we are created in mimicry of God's character. Thus, the discussion become philosophical. Many believe that humans are born initially good, but slowly become corrupt. In that case, we are in fact in God's image (assuming God is "good"), since we are innocent in origination as Adam was, but become corrupt with exposure to the world. This coincides with the bible's story of Eden.
Next, some assume that humans are innately evil (as you have), but overtime gain control of themselves and become good (as many psychologists believe, although this is a simplification). In this case, yes, we were once again created in God's image, but because of a later part of the Eden story have the capacity for evil as well as good. We start out evil, but become good with time. The part about becoming good involves the standard image of God, but I also argue that the capacity for both good and evil is a major part of it.
The final theory I will mention is the blank slate theory. It states that mankind (and womankind) is neither good nor evil at conception, but developes over time into either good or evil or something inbetween. Same arguement as above, we have the capacity for good and evil. The choosing of good can be seen as being fully in God's image.
These are a few theories that I could think of. Good luck comming up with more theories and interpretations.
*Note: I use its because I prefer to not give God a gender.
"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.' - Samuel Adams
Posts: 44 | Location: Charleston, South Carolina | Registered: 10-24-05
well,this would depend on which religions "god" we are talking about because we can judge at least somewhat what the god is like by the discriptions of him and what he does/says and from there decide if we are anything like that.
but since this seems to be talking about the Bible's God it would appear that we are made in his image or at least were intended to be.
The Bible clearly states that we were made in his image. The reason we are not perfect and make mistakes is not because God created us imperfect but because we chose imperfection. so we are created in his image but can choose otherwise.
You've all made very good points. What I've come to learn is that God created our spirits and our bodies and designed them to be similar to his so that we could have the potential to become like he is. He calls us his children - his relation to us is similar to you having your own children; they will inherit your genes and therefore look a little bit like you and even develop a lot of those characteristics that you find in yourself. However, with God I believe the growth is much more. A good comparison would be like comparing a seed to the tree it came from. The seed at first is just this little thing in the dirt, but over time it will grow, it has potential, and eventually it can become just like the great tree that the tiny seed originally came from.
No offense Rayne, but we are not talking about looking like God nor looking like everyone else. We are talking about, if it's an insult to call ourselves images of God.
Losing a cousin you have known your whole life, is like losing a brother and a friend at the sametime. -- Topgun In memery of Jake Gesin
Posts: 622 | Location: Tionesta Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: 09-22-05
well the question asked if we are made in the image of God and I gave my opinion based on our reference to God, scripture. I was stating that maybe we aren't like God mentally, spiritually, or physically right now, but he created us in a way that we could be in the future - and in that way we are made in the image of God. Just like what heyimjack said, for us to become like God we have to act in a way to become like him.
quote: we are created in his image but can choose otherwise.
Many religions believe that our spirits will go on forever. well, doesn't it make sense then, if we were made in his image, with similar qualities as him (if you believe that) and go in the right direction that we can learn a lot over infinite years and inch closer to being like him with time?
I was thinking about how he calls us his children; the term we use for our own children. they're small and inexperienced, but with time they could end up being a lot like their parents (and not just looking like them).
Anyways, I don't think it's an insult because we know that we are nowhere close to where God is in his perfection and power. I was simply saying that we were made in his image when it comes to our potential.
> >> >>> >>>> >>>>>hey, just because im deaf doesnt mean we still cant dance with each other. it like would be like eating toast but never having cinnamon on it. just crunchy bread. eww thats why i have to dance with you. i dont want to be tasteless crunchy bread my whole life >Jordan Pierson
quote: well the question asked if we are made in the image of God
That all depends on how you take the question. Are we made in his body image and or face image, but I think were made the way he thought us out to be. He thought out an image and made that image. So their for we are calling it "made in his image".
Oh and are you deaf???????
Losing a cousin you have known your whole life, is like losing a brother and a friend at the sametime. -- Topgun In memery of Jake Gesin
Posts: 622 | Location: Tionesta Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: 09-22-05
Guys, the topic is "Are Humans Made in God's Image". Post relevant arguments only, further tangents will be deleted.
And Topgun,
quote:Oh and are you deaf???????
If you feel a comment of yours was not properly addressed, then say so, but this type of rebuttal is not appropriate. Refrain from making such comments in the future.
------------------------- "The sleep of reason produces monsters." ~Francisco de Goya
Posts: 3489 | Location: United States | Registered: 03-17-02
Katelyn sorry to tell you I will not say i am sorry for I was asking a question. someone earlier quoted "hey, just because im deaf doesn't mean we still cant dance with each other. it like would be like eating toast but never having cinnamon on it. just crunchy bread. eww that's why i have to dance with you. i don't want to be tasteless crunchy bread my whole life >Jordan Pierson". So I was asking if that person was really deaf or not. So there for I have done no wrong. I was asking, because I to am deaf. So their for it was appropriate, because I was asking. I was not making in fun of anyone. It was a question there is no need to say I am sorry. But I will say sorry if this sounds a little mean. I do not mean to sound mean.
quote: "Are Humans Made in God's Image"
Yes we are made in the image of God. Just not his own image, but if you say an image he thought up in his mind then yes.
Losing a cousin you have known your whole life, is like losing a brother and a friend at the sametime. -- Topgun In memery of Jake Gesin
Posts: 622 | Location: Tionesta Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: 09-22-05
Katelyn sorry to tell you I will not say i am sorry for I was asking a question. someone earlier quoted "hey, just because im deaf doesn't mean we still cant dance with each other. it like would be like eating toast but never having cinnamon on it. just crunchy bread. eww that's why i have to dance with you. i don't want to be tasteless crunchy bread my whole life >Jordan Pierson". So I was asking if that person was really deaf or not. So there for I have done no wrong. I was asking, because I to am deaf. So their for it was appropriate, because I was asking. I was not making in fun of anyone. It was a question there is no need to say I am sorry. But I will say sorry if this sounds a little mean. I do not mean to sound mean.
quote: "Are Humans Made in God's Image"
Yes we are made in the image of God. Just not his own image, but if you say an image he thought up in his mind then yes.
Losing a cousin you have known your whole life, is like losing a brother and a friend at the sametime. -- Topgun In memery of Jake Gesin
Topgun, this entire post was off point. If you have a comment to a facilitator, you can contact that facilitator. Your initial question was off topic to start with, and your response is further off topic. Further off-topic posts will be deleted.
*** I would rather die of thirst than drink from the cup of mediocrity. *** A man can't deny what he is. He can convince everybody else he is someone else, but never himself.
hmm, Topgun, that's an interesting way of looking at it. I've never thought about interpreting it meaning an image that was in God's mind. So are you saying that we are "made in God's image" because he thought up a picture in his mind and decided to make us that way? because if that's the case, then under your theory, everything on the planet (if you believe God created it) was made in the image of God. i have to run, i'll finish this later.
oh, and that quote was something that a good friend said to me in an email; He's deaf in one ear and can never hear what i'm saying when we dance.
>
hey, just because im deaf doesnt mean we still cant dance with each other. it like would be like eating toast but never having cinnamon on it. just crunchy bread. eww thats why i have to dance with you. i dont want to be tasteless crunchy bread my whole life >Jordan Pierson
quote: If you're advocating creationism, Topgun's explanation is far from sufficient, as it easily advocates 'Creational-Evolution' as well.
If you can think of a better way then I believe to be true. Let's hear it beacon-of-hope. If not then what I believe can be true and it cannot be. As I once said it depends how you look at the question. There is nothing wrong with believing that creationism was a thought that God had and created it.
Losing a cousin you have known your whole life, is like losing a brother and a friend at the sametime. -- Topgun In memery of Jake Gesin
Posts: 622 | Location: Tionesta Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: 09-22-05