Sumair Mirza

Who am I? (Identity)

What is morality?

(Living)

Why am I here?

(Purpose)

Is there a Creator? (Origins)

The question of our creation in the image of God is a debate about the status of human life, our identity and value.

• Human moralityabsolute vs. relative?

• Post-human morality?

• “From an ethical perspective we all stand on equal footing whether it be 2 feet or 4 feet or none at all.” - Jeremy Benthem (English Philosopher from 1748-1832)

• “There is no reason to think that a fish suffers less when dying in a net than a fetus suffers during an abortion” - Peter Singer (bio-ethicist and Australian

Philosopher)

• “the life of a new born baby is of less value to it than the life of a pig, a dog, or a chimpanzee” - Peter Singer (bio-ethicist and Australian Philosopher)

• “Then God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” - Genesis 1:26-27

1. Physical resemblance?

2. Does God look more like a male or female?

3. What are the other options?

4. Where does this come from?

Anthropomorphismapplying human-like qualities to God

• Face (Numbers 6:24)

• Eyes/ears (Psalm 34:15)

• Hand/arm (Exodus 7:5, Psalm 89:10)

Anthropopathism; applying human-like emotions to God (laughter (Psalms 2:4, 37:13), anger (Exodus 4:14), grieving, etc.). Distinct difference is God is not controlled by emotions like us.

Zoomorphismapplying animal-like qualities to God

• Lion (Hosea 5:14)

• Bear (Hosea 3:18)

• Wings (Psalm 57:1)

• “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” – John 4:24

• “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” – Luke 24:39

• “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.” – Genesis 9:6

• “the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” – Genesis 2:7

• “God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” – Genesis 1:28

• We are material but that's not all (Genesis 2:7)

• We have an aesthetic sense (Genesis 2:9)

• We have a disciplined purpose in work (Genesis

2:9, 15)

• We have a sense of curiosity (Genesis 2:10)

• We have a need for companionship/fellowship (Genesis 2:18)

• We have the freedom to choose right from wrong (Genesis 2:16-17)

Image of God refers to the immaterial (spirit) part of man

value

worship

reason

soul

choice

works

abstract

social

• Battle for human loyalty... "am I going to be loyal to God? or am I going to be loyal to the animal?" - John Lennox (Bio-ethicist and Oxford Professor

(Mathematics and Philosophy of Science)

A correct understanding of our origins dictates how we live our life, how we value others, and what we focus upon during our time on earth.