1-The literal translation for “Imago dei “or ‘the image of God’ is “the Christian understanding of human beings as created in the image of God bestows dignity and honor on every person, regardless of social, mental or physical status” (Shelly & Miller, 2006).The image of God is a foundational concept for understanding our significance and purpose in life. Understanding how we are made in God’s image helps us understand our inherent dignity as a human being created by our heavenly Father. The literal translation for “Imago dei “or ‘the image of God’ is “the Christian understanding of human beings as created in the image of God bestows dignity and honor on every person, regardless of social, mental or physical status” (Shelly & Miller, 2006).The image of God in us survives our fall into sin. For example, in Genesis 9:6, God reminds Noah that man is made in God’s image “ Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”
Reference:
Shelly J.A., Miller A.B. (2006). “Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing”. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15228961003788426?journalCode=wrdh20
2-Providing care with honor and dignity to each patient should be our daily goal and it is important to always keep this as our top priority.
We must remind ourselves every day even though this can be difficult at times with time constraints and patient loads.
3-great post, I liked that you gave a bible reference of the book of Genesis. Growing up in a Christian home I was thought about the bible. Every time I think or hear of the book of Genesis I always remember this verse. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The bible tells us that in the beginning God with all his power and creativity created a world that reflects his glory. With his word he created all the planets, oceans, and living creatures, but with his “hands and his breath” he sculpted man and woman unlike anything else. The scriptures tell us that humans are Gods masterwork, and he imprinted his signature on the human soul. Humans are created in the Imago Dei “The Image of God”.
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; make and female He created them (Genesis 1:26-27).
Learning about this as a young girl I related “God created man on his own image” as we were created to look like him, that we were created to physically resembled God. I had the physical concept and I was too young to understand the spiritual and psychological concept of the true meaning. Doing research and reading about this topic for this week’s lecture and DQ, I have understood the true concept of what it really means. It is important to understand the relationship between God and humans. It is amazing to me to know that God created everything, but we are the only ones he created in his image. We were created to communicate, to think, create, reason, and relate. We are capable of love and to understand right from wrong, and we are responsible for our actions. God is love, and I agree with you Nicole that we need to exercise his love and care because it reflects the attributes of God our creator. Nicole you explained that nursing starts with a concern for human welfare and healing, and the great responsibility God has given us to care and love others. Like, you I also believe that Imago Dei means that as a Christian and a nurse I need to exercise the love of God with all my patients. Care for them with respect, dignity, and loving care. “If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11), God is great at designing and creating things and as “God’s image-bearers (Genesis 1:26), we are designed to love God and others in the same way that God loves God and others” (Bloom, 2016).
Reference:
Bloom, J. (2016, June 24). If We Love God Most, We Will Love Others Best. Retrieved January 9, 2019, from https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/if-we-love-god-most-we-will-love-others-best
Imago Dei (Image of God). (n.d.). Retrieved January 9, 2019, from http://www.pbs.org/faithandreason/theogloss/imago-body.html