Stephen Kaufman, M.D., Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)
How Are We Created in God’s Image? part 2
Many people think that what makes humans created in God’s “image” are the
intellectual skills that are distinctive among humans. We are indeed very
clever, and human ingenuity has allowed humans to populate and dominate
nearly every land mass on earth. In the short-term, human intellect has
allowed our population to increase exponentially. Whether or not human
intellect is adaptive in the long-term is not so clear. We are wreaking
havoc on the environment that sustains us and we have developed powerful
weapons that threaten our species, as well as many other species.
Since our intellect might or might not be desirable, it raises doubts about
whether our intellect is what defines humanity as created in God’s “image.”
Another cause for caution is that humans have a tendency to elevate whatever
they think makes them distinctive into something that, they believe, makes
them “better.” We see this repeatedly among people of different ethnicities,
who generally regard themselves as “superior” based on attributes they
believe are distinctive to their group.
Another difficult related to identifying humanity’s relation to God with
intellect is that there are many people with mental disabilities, from
congenital defects to trauma to dementia, who lack these skills. Are these
people not in God’s image? Does their moral standing diminish in proportion
to their disabilities?
Nonhumans also have mental skills, some of which are quite remarkable. For
example, squirrels remember where they have hidden hundreds of nuts. Birds
remember the paths they took in migrations of thousands of miles. Nonhumans
are called to make difficult decisions every day, assessing needs, desires,
and risks before choosing courses of action. Scientists are continuously
discovering new, remarkable skills among nonhumans, prompting humans to
search for ways that humans are “unique.” For example, some people have
noted that only humans can draw themselves. A skeptic might reply, “But why
would any nonhuman want to do this?” Each creature has skills that allow it
to survive in challenging environments; only humans claim that their set of
skills makes them “superior.” Are humans really better, or are humans just
arrogant?
Next essay I will relate what I think it means to be made in the image of
God.
Go on to: How Are We Created in God’s Image? part
3
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Reflection on the Lectionary, Table of Contents