Imago Dei

Imago Dei

Imago Dei, which is Latin for “the image of God” in the Christian religion, touches on the special mark placed on humanity by God, Showing people as an exceptional creation (McSherry, 2006). According to pbs.org, imago Dei has its roots in Genesis 1:27, where it says “God created man in his own image.” This bible verse does not mean that God is in human form, but comparatively that people are in the image of God in their moral, spiritual, and intellectual nature. Therefore, people reflect God’s divinity in their potential to actualize the special qualities that they have been blessed and make them different than all other creatures.

Imago Dei drove Mother Teresa to care for the ill and dying in Calcutta, the way it has inspired Christians throughout the centuries to tend to the poor, the sick and the disenfranchised(Cochran, 2006). Whenever a society stopped recognizing the image of God in human beings, be it in the name of science, political ideology, religion, or simply greed, grave moral decay shortly followed. Imago Dei is important to healthcare because human lives depend on healthcare. By paying attention to preserving life and allowing each person dignity, we cherish each human’s life above everything else on earth, the way God intended.

Human life is seen as valuable and special out of all other life forms because as Christians every human is created in the image and likeness of God. In the context of healthcare, healthcare providers, caregivers and all disciplines of the occupation should work with this core understanding always in mind which transcends religion and personal beliefs.

Reference

McSherry, W. (2006). Making sense of spirituality in nursing and health care practice: An interactive approach. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Cochran, E. A. (2006). The Full Imago Dei: The Implications of John Wesley’s Scriptural Holiness for Conceptions of Suffering and Disability. Journal of Religion, Disability & Health, 9(3), 21-46.