We have all heard throughout our lives that we are made in God’s Own image. But what if the word “image” in this case has been mistranslated?
There is always the chance, when transliterating a written, or spoken, word into another language that there are some words which simply have no equivalencies in other languages, like trying to explain quantum physics to a Tongan (no offense to Tongans — nobody understands quantum physics, not even quantum physicists).
So, if the word is not “image,” then what could it possibly be?
Because if we are all made in His image, then how can we have different colored skin and attributes? Or how can some of us be whole, but others not? Why are some fat and others thin? And most importantly, who knows what God Almighty looks like to begin with?
First of all, let’s take a look at what “image” means. According to Merriam-Webster:
1
a
: a visual representation of something: such as
(1)
: a likeness of an object produced on a photographic material
(2)
: a picture produced on an electronic display (such as a television or computer screen)
b
: the optical counterpart of an object produced by an optical device (such as a lens or mirror) or an electronic device
2
a(1)
: a mental picture or impression of something
had a negative body image of herself
(2)
: a mental conception held in common by members of a group and symbolic of a basic attitude and orientation
a disorderly courtroom can seriously tarnish a community’s image of justice—
Herbert Brownell
b
: idea, concept
3
: a popular conception (as of a person, institution, or nation) projected especially through the mass media
promoting a corporate image of brotherly love and concern—
R. C. Buck
4
a
: exact likeness : semblance
God created man in his own image—
Genesis 1:27 (Revised Standard Version)
b
: a person strikingly like another person
she is the image of her mother
5
a
: a tangible or visible representation : incarnation
the image of filial devotion
b
archaic : an illusory form : apparition
6
: a vivid or graphic representation or description
7
: a reproduction or imitation of the form of a person or thing
especially : an imitation in solid form : statue
8
: figure of speech
9
: a set of values given by a mathematical function (such as a homomorphism) that corresponds to a particular subset of the domain
And that is strictly the definition for the usage as a noun; as a verb, Merriam-Webster says:
1
a
: to create a representation of
also : to form an image of
imaged Jupiter’s rings
image the bone using X-rays
b
: to represent symbolically
2
: to call up a mental picture of : imagine
3
: to describe or portray in language especially in a vivid manner
4
a
: reflect, mirror
b
: to make appear : project
5
: to make a disk image of
As you can see, a word like image is one with multiple meanings (interesting that Jupiter inclusion, there). If you notice, entry 4 a., the one which specifically mentions Genesis 1:27 (RSV) — “God created man in His Own image” (at least, that is how it ought to read) — also includes the word Semblance in its definition.
Semblance means:
1
a
: outward and often specious appearance or show : form
wrapped in a semblance of composure—
Harry Hervey
b
: modicum
has been struggling to get some semblance of justice for his people—
Bayard Rustin
2
: aspect, countenance
3
a
: a phantasmal form : apparition
b
: image, likeness
4
: actual or apparent resemblance
Obviously, the word resemblance derives from semblance, which would be the origin of comparison. Again, this would mean that there is indeed, somewhere, a seminal impression — a picture, a drawing, a literary description — of God, according to this logic, because without an initial portrayal, how can one truly know he is the “image of God?”
SORRY, I DON’T KNOW ANYBODY WHO LOOKS LIKE THIS.
All right, then; so if not “image,” then what could possibly be the proper word, translated?
Well, before we ask that question, let us consider image distortion.
As with regards to the current Hollywood dust-up, with “actors” and “writers” voicing concerns about being supplanted by CGI and AI, the fact that images can be distorted is a very real one. We have recently seen classic Disney movies, filled with beloved characters we all knew from childhood, manipulated into something which to be called caricatures of their source materials would be kind; like people we once knew and loved who pervert themselves into such a state we choose to remember them they way they used to be.
Thus, it is easy to see how an image, even one of a Divine Being, if such existed, would definitely be distorted today.
OK, but back to the question: “If not image, then what?”
I would say we are similarities, not images; I think this ought to be the actual reading of Genesis 1:27, “God created man in His Own similarity.” There is a major difference. See here:
1
: the quality or state of being similar : resemblance
2
: a comparable aspect : correspondence
I think the second definition here, “a comparable aspect,” is the word needed. I would not ever doubt we are aspects of God in some comparable ways, but we are not directly God’s doppelgangers. There is only one God. We have no idea how to even conceive the thought that we are as beautiful and majestic as He. Look around you. There is no comparison.
So no, I do not believe we are created in God’s Own image. If this were true, we would be living in Paradise, would we not?
If we look at it from the ancient alien perspective, then it would make a bit more sense if we were created by a race of aliens, and be made from their image. Just saying.
And in whose ‘image’ were the aliens created? And could not God be considered to be working thru them?
Turtles. Turtles all the way down.
EVERYTHING in the visible, invisible, etc. universe is the divine. How could it be otherwise? If it was created by the divine, or created itself though its own manifestation from the divine state, what else could it be made of other than the divine? The importance of the implication of being “in his image” or whatever words were used in whatever original language or whatever that translates to, is that since we are all from the divine, we are all part of the great, infinite, unknowable, unfathomable divine, and though we may not perceive that inherent truth, it is always the case nonetheless. Those who come to share that truth with us, come with a pathway to that realization and reunification.
Uh… we we’re living in paradise until, you know, that whole serpent incident…
I suggest reading your Bible beyond the first chapter of the first book before attempting to make a theological argument.
Giving me the same advice others have given you, huh?
You amaze me. Sometimes I totally agree with you, other times you have absolutely nothing good to say.
This being one of those times.
The book literally explains how humans got kicked out of paradise in chapter 2-3 of Genesis. Chapter 1 explains how God created a perfect world and chapter 2-3 explains how humans messed it up by thinking for themselves.
God is an buff old man with a long white beard and hair wearing a white robe. who lives on a cloud.
Everyone knows this.
Multiple corroborative sources, so there it is than , God is an old buff dude with long silver hair and a beard . Well done Sir lol .
They deliberately made him out to look like Zeus, the same as they built churches on top of pagan religious sites, in order to convert the natives. They make Satan out to look like Pan, which I think is an injustice.
Satan should look absolutely beautiful.
Like a Hollywood idol.
The great deceiver hiding his infinite ugly evil behind
the visage of perfect beauty.
Satan would cloak himself in the image of God.
I’m sorry. “WOULD” ?!?
I apologize for snapping at you earlier. Your opinion is worthy and I value it.
I am not trying to make the argument that any book in the Bible is right or wrong, only that with its myriad translations, man has made errors in its transliteration. One single word can change the entire meaning of a sentence; is it so wrong to think this is not true with different Bible verses and versions?
I let the Bible do its own explaining; I am only trying to understand it as best I can, in my own unique way.
If I did not want your comments I would not have written the article. You guys/girls help me understand.
Thank you all.
Have you read the entire Bible? You should probably strive to read and understand the entire Bible instead of nitpicking individual words or rambling on about the various translations. You tried to build an entire theological argument out of one passage and it easily blew up in your face. Next time try reading the entire book instead of twisting verses to fit into your gnostic worldview.
WTF? “My gnostic worldview.” “It… blew up in (my) face.”
I just can’t, Steph. What you see in your mind is cluttered with many filters.
No, I’ve read Genesis. If you would’ve kept reading you would realized the folly of your own argument sooner. Seeing as you’re completely bypassing my initial question I’m going to assume you haven’t read the entire bible and your word salad argument about translations is just bullshit to distract away from the fact you haven’t read the Bible and don’t know what you’re talking about.
So you want to be in a right relationship with God all ya gotta do is read The Book huh ?Also you’ll then be qualified to scold others for their perceptions and questions because having read The Book , you now just automatically understand Gods mind and his intent, his process ? There is knowledge and then there is understanding and the two aren’t neccasarilly non exclusive of each other , just like any other field of inquiry in that way . You sayin God wnet “Dope !!!!, I screwed up ” when he went looking for Adam, and Eve in the garden and found that they were hiding from him ? Pretty small god ya got there .
But he didn’t read the book which obvious by the cherry picking of the one verse he based this article around that was easily refuted by continuing to read the rest of Genesis. My criticism has nothing to do with religion or God. I can’t stand MFs who don’t read but want to appear to be intellectual. Had Cpt Obvious written an article about Harry Potter and confused book 3 with book 7 I’d also point it out.
Why is it that as soon as you attach God or religion to the subject matter people feel so comfortable and entitled with bullshitting you?
Yes. Let us dwell on that. From all angles.
Which translation did you read? Ever find the original version?
Thank you, Doug.
Her entire argument seems to be that she knows which version is the right one, and therefore no debate of other versions, like KJV, NIV, etc., should be allowed because it is gnosticism.
She’s read Genesis and knows she and her version are correct. Shut up.
HAVE YOU READ THE ENTIRE BIBLE? It’s a simple fucking question. It doesn’t matter which translation you pick. Have you read at least ONE of them entirely from beginning to end ONE time in your lifetime?
Why are you raising your voice, u mad bro?
Whether or not I have read the entire Bible is irrelevant to this article. All that matters is Genesis 1:27, which is the only scripture I quoted.
You are becoming irrational.
Have you read the entire Bible? Yes or no?
Cherry picking verses isn’t theology.
For those interested, the proper and complete translation of the Bible in English is the Douay-Rheims version.
At last, someone who knows the “right” version of the Bible. /s
Please expand on how you have arrived at this conclusion.
The “right version” ti easy to pick out.
Tis the King James version of course!
I do hate how the book of Judas is ignored/tell folks a fake ect.
Maybe, the correct version of the bible is whichever one leads the reader to understand, learn and put into practice, the lessons, to the point of no longer needing the instructions?
Explain what is theology, then, in your opinion.
reading the bible in its entirety is most certainly relevant. quoting verses eclectically or in isolation is the primary abuse of interpretation. The better understanding of the word image is “attributes” God has attributes – communicable and incommunicable. We humans received the communicable ones (thus in His image). One of God’ incommunicable attributes is aseity. God’s word is an example of that attribute. In other words one doesn’t go to webster’s dictionary or wikipedia or even the pope to gain the understanding of what’s contained in it. It stands on it’s own. one just needs to study it – as the true Church has done for thousands of years. so yes, you do need to read it in its entirety.
Pull pin, toss.
From my perspective that whole thing was part of Gods plan as well . Had God not wanted us to ” think for ourselves “then He never would have imbued us with such a capacity to begin with . Lucifer was part of Gods plan . God wants you to choose the right way but how can you choose the right way if there is no other choice ?
Was the original assignment for early humans, to care for and the cultivate the earth, have the animals in subjection and to fill the earth with descendants who would continue this work?
Cpt_Oblivious,
Why do you task people with you sophomoric brain doodles?
God is incorporeal, thus, those made in His image, are done so in an incorporeal manner.
The Image is Intellect, Reason, Imagination, and the capacity to Know, and to Love.
Man is the only material creature that has intellect, reason, imagination, and the capacity to know and love. Man is the only material creature that is a person.
You should try taking a couple of high school level philosophy courses, maybe a religion course, or maybe even read some beginning theology.
If I were to give you credit, I’d guess you’re either in a college dorm room, smoking some serious weed, or you are just cop dusting click bait.
Either way, you should go “Anonymous” since your name has now been branded as being the name of a cretin.
Says Anonymous.
Lecturing me about name branding.
https://www.artnet.com/artists/john-sir-tenniel/the-expulsion-from-eden-yVKOCwTOkQ6vNexSmSL4-w2
For me, “in God’s image” means having free will. Jesus said “God is Spirit” (John 4:24). So, no old man with a beard (sorry Mormons).
Yes. Free will is an attribute of omniscient.
What? How so? I don’t see it.
Guess you don’t really either……
Now that that’s settled, let’s debate how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Exegesis of religious writings, no matter what the religion, is an exercise in futility. It’s like getting shot with an arrow and delaying treatment until you know who shot the arrow, who made the arrow, what wood was used for the arrow shaft, what feathers fletch the shaft, etc. You’ll be dead before you ever find out.
” let’s debate how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.”
Already been settled. The answer? One. Not “one at a time” but literally one. Only one. His name is Aziraphale.
This is an intriguing topic. Of course the fundamentalists want to believe the literal words and find in their dogma the meaning that best suits their preconceptions. Montesqieu said “if triangles had a god they would give him 3 sides”.
If we think about the theory of evolution, not claiming it is true, but think about what it proposes. That an elephant and a bacterium are the “same” thing as they share a common ancestor and are the result only of different environmental pressures. But if you were able to look at past present and future as a single snapshot, would not all animals and plants be seemingly divergent parts of the same single thing? Would not all of creation appear as a great tree which has grown from a single small seed? And if we think this original seed somehow represents the mind or desires of the creator could we not say that humans (along with everything else) are created in ‘God’s image’?
All this insecurity over Gods word stems from simple unbelief. The correct word is image. Trust it, you will not be led astray.
Genesis 1:27 KJB… “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Adam is here in the direct image of God. No death, no sin; paradise! His disobedience before having any children added sin and thus death to the world.
Genesis 5:3 KJB… “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:”
His offspring, and thus we, are thereafter created in Adam’s fallen image, no longer Gods. This is why salvation is so critical and study so important. We need to be put back into Gods image, and Christ opens the door!
2 Corinthians 3:18 KJB… “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
When one gets saved by trusting what God says about salvation (1 Cor 15:1-4), one is judicially placed back into that perfect image and prepared to spend eternity in perfection with God as was His intent from the beginning… 😊
Sure. Abandon reason and critical thinking and the insecurity goes away. I believe you.
Insecurity about the fate of your eternal soul goes away.
Nothing else. Earthy concerns aren’t part of the deal.
I can’t prove you’re wrong. But I’ll bet God didn’t write 1 Cor 15:1-4.
Do you believe there is other ‘intelligent’ life in the universe? If so do they all look like us?
I’ll take that bet! Paul was Holy Spirit inspired when he wrote that letter. As the Holy Spirit is God, God then was the ultimate author.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJB… “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
2 Peter 1:20-21 KJB… “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Divine authorship, human penmanship. There is no way man wrote this book. He wouldn’t even if he could as it paints us in a very unpleasant light. It claims to be supernatural and honest study demonstrates that truth. It’s magnificent, really! I’ll never get to the end of it in this life!
Yes, I do. There are many life-forms the Bible describes. Angels, cherubs and such. They live in places we do not but surely can interact with us; sometimes rightly, but very often with evil intent. For example…
Genesis 6:4 KJB… “There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”
Sons of God… Job 1:6 KJB… “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.” …are such beings.
Peace!
Nephilim.
Seraphim.
Golem.
The bible is full of “aliens.”
Giants! Loaded with giants! Truth is far stranger than fiction.
I respect your learned opinion on this and yet I find the conventional take on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden , that somehow things weren’t supposed to have gone the way they did , unsatisfying , illogical and quite frankly makes God seem much smaller than I see him . God didnt say ” well I didn’t see that coming ” , or” darn those humans , that wiley serpent( that I also put there )came out of nowhere and mucked everything up “. Dont get me wrong I do beleive in God as you do , its just that I have a particular theological hypothesis on the whole thing that works better ( is more logical and satisfying for a believer )
The conventional take? Wouldn’t that be the Biblical take?
I don’t see any lessening of Gods plan at all. Free will comes with a cost that God was willing to pay. He didn’t want to create robots. He knew we would stray but He wanted those who actively desired to be with Him to return to Him.
Those of us who do, believe what He says.
Noah believed God. He built a boat.
Abram believed God. He left his home.
Moses believed God. He led the captivity.
The 12 believed God. They followed Him.
Paul believed God. He preached grace.
I believe God. I’m a sinner in need of a Savior. I trust that Christ made the sufficient payment for my sin debt to set my soul free and put me back in right standing with Him. My own efforts at righteousness fall pathetically short…
I hope you’ve done the same!
“God created man in His Own image”
Maybe this is incorrect and was written by a Gnostic Wizard who believed themselves to be God. The story of Genisis is thousands of years old, things have bound to have been a little bit bent out of shape in the retelling.
And once again, Mongo gets the point.
We are seeing history and literature changed right before our eyes daily; what makes anyone believe, with absolute certainty, that events which happened thousands of years ago would not also be altered?
Coming from a linguistics background, I can attest there are always differences in languages, whether subtle or blatant. Like Chinese, for example: a simple inflection while speaking a word — which, often times, is the same word, like read and read — makes it another word entirely, and even when translated by a native speaker the wrong version of a word is still possible, when translating it into another language.
The Bible is the Word of God, but throughout the course of time it has been disseminated into practically every tongue, by men; and each time, words have had to be changed and/or eliminated, archaic terminology revised, whole books removed entirely; so the end result sometimes is far from its original, intended, meaning.
The simple truth is, God’s Word has been tweaked by men who have motives, usually those who claim His Word as their own. They have inserted hidden meanings where none were before; they have interpreted His Word purposefully wrong in many instances. So, can we really take this-or-that version of God’s Word as being precisely as He intended?
Better, I think, would be to accept that we are aspects of a multi-faceted, eternal Being, who is so everything, that what we are our minds cannot even begin to comprehend. Even if only made like Him spiritually, we still have no idea what that means.
This is why I believe “image” is not the correct word.
You have many great points. This is why we read scripture and contemplate on it. Exoteric knowledge is from the reading. Contemplation can bring us to Esoteric knowledge. Prayer, meditation, and contemplation have been the tools to have a greater understanding of God since the beginning of time. I always start my contemplation with a prayer or sacred song. The Psalms are great for that, try 25. They tune us into the Holy Spirit, and if we are worthy, sincere enough, God gives us the answers we need to have a greater life.
How can you make such a claim when you walk it back here:
So the word of God doesn’t exist because we screwed it up. Or, it only exists in the original language? Then surely you and I can’t have it.
Can’t have it both ways. I think God is powerful enough to preserve His words in any language on earth. Just like He said He would.
Psalm 12:6-7 KJB… “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”
If you ever decide to really look into this claim, you’ll be amazed at what you find!
What about Satan runs planet earth don’t you understand? All minds are under control of Satan, and yes all orthodox religions are also under his control. Version after version of his word has been misinterpreted so no one, including, you even knows what the holy spirit is.
But Satan/Lucifer is ultimately under the control of God , there to provide us with a choice , a choice God no doubt wants us to reject but its a choice that He must provide for us if we are to be on par with what He is creating with and in us( pure love ) . Its quite simple .
You get a least part of it. Satan is part of God’s Hierarchy. He is the warden, and we are the prisoners. The Gnostics had it 100% right o Satan. The old testament god Jehovah is actually Satan. He is not the Creator God that created Soul. But he is the creator of our earthly prison. Only through hate, do we understand Love. Hate and all of it’s attributes bind us to earth. While Love frees us.
I do believe that satan is the god of this world. I see clearly that he has you firmly in his grasp.
A Pastor that never experienced the holy Spirit. You are the definition of the control that Satan has over the minds of men
I’m more inclined to believe Adam and Eve were created in His image or likeness or fullness pre fall of Man in the Garden.
After that not so much.
The problem arises when fallen man creates God in his own image.
Then you get to see madness in the shadow of a golden calf.
EWS-That thought is well referenced on the back of Jethro Tull’s 1971 album…if any care to read it in proper Spirit! “…as all these things did come to pass, the spirit that did cause Man to create his God lived on…and Man saw it not… but for Christ’s sake he’d better start looking.
We are made in the Spiritual image of God. That provides a level field for which all can live. The rest is up to us.
God is without sin.
We are not and never will be this side of heaven.
Most definitely because God takes a wicked shit after 2 cups of coffee.
Name another creature that is creative. Composes music, produces art, builds ornate structures. Kinda creative, like the Creator.
Good point. We create.
I loved Steph’s comment once when she said the Word inspired her creativity. Yes, it absolutely does – for a reason.
Artists are above royalty and just
Below the saints. Barely. We feel God’s
Urge and so we create. Hopefully real beauty.
Yes, y’all are. 🙂
So, what are engineers, carpenters, miners? Chopped liver?
Can their work overwhelm and move one to tears? Yes, I believe it’s possible in some cases.
One look at a medieval cathedral and you see the Hand Of God.
It is art.
Blessed craftsmen
Pure, unadulterated, masturbatory, self serving bullshit straight from the Pits of Hell.
Thanks Satan!
Always love the scorn from The Great Deceiver.
It’s proof I’m on the right path.
Mucho Gusto.
According to recent testimony the US government has been in contact with a number of species which meet your criteria
Bit of a moot point anon a moos, these days most humans do none of those things, as they’ve been degraded to the level of mindless cattle. Birds sing, dance, and to my eyes a weaver birds nest is a work of ornate art.
Problem is art is in the eye of the beholder and we truly have no idea how other creatures truly perceive their reality. Then there’s the question of what is art? In my opinion, art is created wherever the full and complete attention of the conscious mind is applied to the task at hand. A rare occurrence in a world of automation and constant distraction.The other interminable problem of the world we live in may be summarised as follows. Art imitates life, and life imitates art, wealth mediates.
I have pondered recently if the ability to turn abstract thought into lived reality is what separates humans from animals. I haven’t managed to come to a conclusion on that yet, it’s difficult to determine if some of the things animals do is a result of creative thought or purely instinctual, but then how did they develop the instinct. Maybe better to just enjoy and appreciate the wonders of the world without overthinking things.
You missed the point Mongo. You devolve the question down to individualism by saying that few can do this or that so its proof that we aren’t creative at all. I asked what other creature on this rock is creative as the article is about God and whether we are made in his image.
One of Gods attributes is that he is creative and created everything you see. (enter douchebag arguments about buildings, statues, evil asswipes etc etc from the wannabe theologians ) Not saying you will enter this argument but know others will faithfully leap at it.
The Weaver building its nest is like every other weavers nest. There are no improvements, no plumbing, no heating/cooling, no running water, no additional rooms. The are all the same, thats the result of built in programming, instinctual behaviours and are easily recognized.
Your mentioning art is subjective, and it is but we can define art and recognize the differences between good art and well, yoko ono art. the point is, there are no other creatures that produce art nor compose arias. You won’t find art hanging in nests nor will you find Orioles grouping together singing in a band or developing instruments to accompany them.
If there are such creatures on this planet. Then by all means, lets hear and see them.
First of all I did not claim man was not creative, it would be lunacy to even think someone could try to make such a claim, I was only lamenting how modern life has separated so many from the act of creativity.
Moving on, applying your criteria for what isn’t art. A group of school children is tasked with painting a vase of flowers, that isn’t art because although each creation is unique, they all have a same basic similarity. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, that isn’t art because the artists did not also istall plumbing and central heating. Beethovens Moonlight Sonata, that isn’t art because it was composed and performed in solo, no one grouped together to form a band with other musicians.
I note also that some weaver birds build a colony structure comprising of several hundred nests all joined together. Many artists have spoken of the importance a producing their art ‘instinctively’.
Admittedly the creative art of animals is not on the same level as humans, but you can see them.
And hear them
Curious if you’ve read any CS Lewis? I believe in going straight to the Word, but IMO he was gifted with an amazing talent to reason & worth the consideration.
If you haven’t read him & want to, let me know & I’ll read along with you to refresh my memory of whatever book you choose. I’d invite Stephanie to read along with us, too.
You could write an essay on your thoughts if interested. I’m not interested in writing & will leave that to others, but would be curious in your thoughts.
I bought a 7 book box set of C.S. Lewis books a few years ago. His writings definitely formed some good arguments in favor of Christianity. Also, Hillsdale College has some free C.S. Lewis lectures worth watching.
Yes, have done the Hillsdale free online classes on several topics. A great option for those of us who cannot participate in the in-person classes/discussions. I *almost* wish I had gone to college there.
That makes you *almost* an American.
When I worked as a cook in a restaurant in the early 90s there was a jewish guy who was extremely cool and a great artist. Also a phenomenal thinker and conversationalist. We’d talk as we prepped for the day. He was a “Judeo-Christian” in the original meaning of the word, in that he converted to Christianity and was saved by Jesus after he almost died of a heroin overdose.
Anyway, he was sold on CS Lewis. He lent me a cassette tape (Abigail, please look on Wikipedia to see what those were. They were an early recording technology whereby you could share an audio recording with someone else by passing them a small plastic case with thin “tape” inside that allowed sounds to be stored and reproduced. Quite interesting if you want to learn about them). The cassette tape was titled “Mere Christianity”. I still have it. As I remember it, Lewis was very convincing as to his argument.
Yes, Lewis is so incredibly convincing. And I think I’m a hard sell. But, he was extremely influential in my life. If you could see my house you’d realize just how much.
Would be interested in your thoughts too, if the Captain proceeds.
Thanks for the education on cassette tapes. Interesting. I’ll look for them next time I’m at a museum. Next, could you explain what a newspaper is?? Sounds ancient. 🙂
Chesterton does a great job too with Everlasting Man.
I will look for that as well. I’m looking for a sea change in my life right now. Christianity of that approach might be just the thing.
“Mere Christianity” hasn’t ever been remotely convincingly refuted by any critic.
That says much. It is a very convincing argument for the
existence of God and his messenger/son, Jesus.
I would also recommend “Summa Theologica” by
Thomas Aquinas. It is a difficult work to grasp, but so worth the effort.
His proof of the existence of God has also never been logically refuted.
I have Summa Theologica on my shelves but have never read it. You may have just motivated me to get it done. I love works that haven’t been refuted.
It’s a slog if you have never studied classical logic.
Francis Shafer if you want a mind bending mental challenge.
Now, Chesterton I know very well, and agree with his writings.
He is a huge influence.
Awesome. I would love to see you do an essay on him. You’re a great writer and choose thought-provoking topics.
Thank you for your kind words.
That sounds like an invitation, and I gladly accept. I love looking at other people’s homes to see their decor and how they chose to place items of meaning and significance around them. Which issue of Homeschooling Today featured your home? Or was it in Lunatic Fighters of Denver? I assume whatever the decor, you made sure that blood spatter could be easily removed from the walls and that 55 gallon plastic barrels holding the caustic chemicals for body disposal could by rolled in and out of doorways without marring the woodwork.
And I envision this all of this under paintings of the Hundred Acre Wood, to highlight to your future victims that they either play nicely or they become more missing persons as there were so many of in Douglas County, Colorado.
I’ll listen again to Mere Christianity to refresh my thoughts.
I promise I have never actually killed anyone. Scout’s honor.
(wrong county, btw. 😉)
Hmmmm….lots of clever wordplay in that response. So you’ve just had them killed, but not by your hand. Got it.
I love how well you understand me. 😎
Except I don’t know it’s really you, since you don’t have a log-in. You could be a doppelganger, the real Abigail Adams killed by the grizzly. I’m still not convinced.
So I’ll ask you a question that only the real Abigail could answer because no one else could possibly know. Ready?
Tell me one thing that Abigail Adams never told ANYONE else, that she kept secret from everyone, so only she herself would know. If you know that thing (which would be impossible to know if you weren’t her) then I will believe she was not killed by the grizzly and you are her.
It could be anything. Favorite stuffed animal, special memory of a day or event, but only SHE would know the answer.
What is it? Try to answer, if you can. I bet you can’t. 😏
Do Sigma’s freely give out info about themselves?? 🤔
Ok. You’re her. That was the correct answer. A doppelganger would have given an answer no matter how insignificant.
Whew…glad I passed your test.
Did you actually read about the woman who got killed? Did you see how bizarre the coincidences?
1. Her name was Amie Adamson. (AA, last name contained “Adams”).
2. She was an English teacher who left the public school system and was critical of it, and wrote a book about her dissatisfaction.
3. Female.
4. Loved to hike.
5. Loved Yellowstone.
6. Was killed the same week you stopped posting.
It was so odd. I legitimately thought it could be you. It had me seriously questioning 😐 things. I was going to call her family and ask if she liked Jane Austen. So wyrd.
I looked it up after you mentioned it. I can see how you thought that. Yes, some similarities, but not quite a perfect match. Probably would have been great friends – I bet she did like Austen.
Did I ever say I was an English teacher??
No, but you love books and authors = English teacher. Like you said, not a perfect match, but bizarrely close. Especially the AA part.
Let’s name the kind of teachers you could not be:
Math
History
Gym
Social Studies
Science
That leaves just English teacher, lol. (That was a joke).
Yes, agree, bizarre with that name.
Um…why could I NOT be any of the other kind?? Such little faith.
1. Because you can’t handle any numbers, obviously. You seem practically dyslexic. I’ve never seen you use or manipulate numbers to prove a point. You seem allergic to them.
2. You don’t have a deep background in history. That’s obvious.
3. A sigma couldn’t lead a group class in Dodgeball or any group activities that were mindless conformity.
4. You have no interest in the “social” aspect of being human. Social Studies is the study of groups, which you detest.
5. You don’t have the kind of mind that loves hard sciences. You’re kind of the opposite.
There’s really no kind of teacher you could be if not English other than Special Needs or…what else is there? Certainly not a foreign language teacher.
Nope. You’re an English Teacher. You knew the name of the last comma in a series when I was on the beach in Florida last year. You asked me if I liked or disliked using the last comma, which is optional.
English Teacher.
Wow. Well done. Very impressive, Sherlock.
But, I must say, I’m feeling quite un-accomplished after reading your comment. Ouch. Lol. 😂
Don’t be. It was a compliment. You read it wrong. It basically said that you took a job that was your natural strength. You could have been a science teacher or math teacher, but then you would have been a poor one and that would have shown terrible judgement on your part.
You are very accomplished. I have always been very, very impressed with your mind. You manipulate ideas very well, you have an excellent memory for the style and views of so many different writers and thinkers, you express yourself perfectly, you intuit things immediately with no lag time, you process info at a very high processing speed, you are endlessly curious, you absorb information easily and retain it, and you have a great passion for teaching others. You are highly accomplished. You are close to self-actualization.
Nice work.
I wasn’t fishing for compliments, but thank you for the kind words. I am going to bullet-point them on my next resume in the event I need to apply for a job. Certainly, I’ll be hired right away! 😁
Kinda funny how one can read a list of their weaknesses & then told you read it wrong, gotta admit that’s kinda funny – amirite?? Lol.
Yes, it’s funny. They are weaknesses if you see them that way, or if you foolishly put yourself in the wrong position in life.
For instance, I would never want to be on a spaceship and you were the person who had to solve the scientific problem that was potentially dooming the trip. That would be fatal.
I’m feeling the sudden need for self-improvement. Could you put together some lessons for me? I guess in ALL subjects…
You want self-improvement? I can’t see anything that needs improving.
Oh, there is one thing. Patience.
Oh, great. Give me the impossible…
Ok, logging off now. If I don’t comment much, don’t worry – lot’s going on with work, travel, and things.
I’m immortal – I promise.
G’nite.
Goodnight.
Yes, I have read C. S. Lewis, and am familiar with his works. I find many of them impressive.
As you might could tell by now, I always look at a subject — a person, a written work, whatever — from all sides before I can truly say I have an informed opinion, and sometimes other sides have compelling arguments.
When I see a man venerated, I research his history, and if there is a progression (since none of us are the same as when we started this race) of thought, does it appear to be a natural progression or an induced one?
Mostly, I have found it is a combination of both. Logically, it takes inducement to wish to progress, so the snake eats its tail.
But like I said, sometimes the other side’s argument cannot be considered without merit. Read this and see if you agree:
I will admit, some of the claims in that article are downright crazy, but like everything you read, there is some truth in it. A small amount, to be sure. And there are entirely too many 33’s and 18’s in it.
Oh….the article looks very interesting. I’ll read it in the morning when I’m at my sharpest. Thanks.
There we go again.
If you really understood Christianity, you’d know you can never truly say ‘I have an informed opinion.’ [in the Earthly realm]
If you really understood Christianity, you’d know you can never truly say ‘I have an informed opinion.’ [in the Earthly realm]
Nice “get of of myth free card”
you seem to be trying to play.
Nice bullshit assertion you are trying to make.
No, its a real observation.
I love it when anyone gets to the point where they say
“..Christianity…you can never truly say ‘I have an informed opinion”
What verse or book is this rule found in?
Aslan died on the stone table to atone for your sins, and never take Turkish Delight from a stranger.
OMG…be still my heart. ❤️
We can assume that Jesus is essentially what God would look like as a human.
We know that Jesus was/is perfect.
Therefore he had/has the perfect body.
Therefore it is certain that Jesus/God was/is chiseled.
Finally something outstanding; I can’t see God as a freak like our Admirals, movie stars, POTUS.
We are made in God’s Image in the following way. The Godhead Consists of The Father , The Son, and The Holy Ghost…a 3 in 1 Trinity. Man is created with a Body, a Mind and a Spirit…a 3 in 1 trinity.
It has nothing to do with physical appearance at all.
Not that you are wrong. But the Body, mind, spirit thing is more new age Christianity. Old Christianity usually refers to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as the three Spiritual currents. Positive, Negative, and Neutral.
Atheists: “If your God exists, why does he allow all the evil to occur in our world?”
Believers: “Maybe because He gave us free will, but also incomplete, partial, or elusive understanding of why bad things happen to good people. Christ told his Apostles and followers: “In this world, you will have trouble, but I am not of this world. Love one another. Peace be with You.”
So the evil that men do, is a poor choice point decision as influenced by the Evil One himself.
The undeserved pain, struggles, challenges and heartache that comes TO all men and women from unknown sources for unknown reasons?
That’s a mystery we might never discover the answer to during our days on earth.
But He did say to Trust Me. Turn to Me. Follow Him.
~Another choice point decision under perhaps very difficult and unjust circumstances.
Ours might not be to know what miracles or potential Good can come after emerging from
horrifically wrong experiences we don’t deserve.
A poor choice point during such trying times would be to abandon belief and faith in Him,
and thinking He brought whatever misery that comes upon us.
“The Shack” is a good example of a fictitious book about just such challenge and revelations.
Many, many people absolutely refuse to come to grips with the horrible experience of Mack in
that book and be able to see a pathway out of their hatred for God in similar situations.
But again, He gives us free will to choose.
And, He’ll always be there, with Love, if we ever open the door to let Him into our lives again.
~Like a parent who typically holds unconditional love for their child, regardless of the consequences
that must still be endured for having made poor choices.
In His image?
I like the term in His likeness.
Like, how?
Not 100% sure, since there are mysteries we don’t know all the answers to.
But, in His likeness, in that we can try to think, speak, and behave as He did.
When in the human form of Jesus, Christ tried to teach reactions that go against everything mortal man would prefer to do.
-Do the Father’s will. {not always in harmony with our stubborn will to do things our way}
-Forgive the sinner, but hate the sin.
-Turn the other cheek. Not literally, but don’t repay evil with another evil such as revenge.
-Don’t hypocritically point out faults & shortcomings of others when we have plenty of our own.
(Judge Not, or you will be judged. Forgive not, and you will not be forgiven.)
As for those who scoff at the origins and motives of the Bible, calling others fools who take in The Word, from a personal viewpoint, there are so many good advisories and countless lessons that have been recorded to learn from, with the characters therein.
Far too many to even begin listing.
But, again, as always, this topic is a personal journey, for each individual to find his own way,
in whatever works best for them. Even if they choose to ignore and mock, what others choose to
believe.
God is spirit, and He wants us to worship Him in Spirit.
It’s not about which Temple or Church, or which religion, or which rituals some men demand,
and forever argue and fight about it with a superiority complex that is flawed, at best.
Find your own path, and use whatever method helps you best, and let others do the same.
Or simply ignore any aspect of a higher power who some consider the Source of all that is Good.
The impact of incorporating stock photos into my work cannot be overstated. They add a professional polish to my projects that was once hard to achieve. Thanks to a fantastic website, I’ve gained access to a vast library lightning bolt vector of stock photos that I can use without worrying about licensing issues. It’s a game-changer for anyone looking to elevate their visual content and make a lasting impression.
Hehehe.
The image part has to do with Soul. Soul like God is immortal, and omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. This has been taught by all of the spiritual adepts since the dawn of time.
Wrong yet again.
The “soul” is the seat of intellect. The mind and all its thoughts. It is not eternal.
The “spirit” is eternal. It, and it alone was created before your body was formed in the womb.
What you are calling spirit I am calling Soul. Soul is the divine part of us that God created. Spirit or Holy spirit is the essence/energy from God that enlivens Soul and our physical bodies. We travel back to God via the holy spirit. I call this Soul travel. The waves of the Holy spirit are how we make our ways back to God. Your putting Soul on the same terms as mind. Soul goes beyond mind, and is the source of wisdom. Most people assume Soul and Spirit are one and the same. This is the way I understand it, and I have read and contemplated on it for the last 45 years. Everyone experiences it a little different. It doesn’t mean your wrong. Often it’s the terminology that is different.
I’ve gotten a lot of good information from TBP over the years. One thing I have always stood by. It’s not the place to go for spiritual advice.
Religious either, Aodh.
It does cause controversy and brings eyeballs, though, so there’s that.
There is only one place for true “spiritual advice”
But many don’t like what that vessel has to say.
The King James version will suffice.
What if we mistranslated the word God?
No if about it.
Christians sound a hell of a lot like progressives. When they cannot justify the bullshit of their own religion, they change the meaning of the words to fit the lie they are trying to spread…
How naïve do you have to be to believe someone actually created this shit show on purpose. Anyone who would have created this evil place on purpose, would be about as sadistic as it is possible to be…. You actually believe a being with unlimited power and knowledge created a world in which 99.5% of the people live in slavery and misery being lied to and exploited by the .5%?
But the .5% are all that matters to the ZOG god, right?
Kewl…. this waws an argument/discussion I had just last week. It wasw with one of my kids, and the argument put forth was if we are made in God’s image, are those born different just bad copies?
My opinion regarding lots of scripture is that it must be digested with an open heart, a bunch of forgiveness and some salt as well.
We settled on the real meaning of “IMAGE” as something more akin to “LIKENESS”.
But God only knows, so talk to Jesus about it.
Another one who gets my point.
We are made in the image of the creator, and are meant to share kinship with the spirit of creation, and to stand steadfast against the forces of destruction.
What if it was something like this?
Three levels of life:
Plants – no consciousness or emotions
Animals – emotions and awareness but no genuine understanding of time
Humans- emotions, awareness, and consciousness (self-awareness in time), resembling God, as it were, and thus allowing for the conceptions of free will, ethics, law, and morality
The Hebrew word for image in Genesis 1 literally means “likeness of resemblance”. Unlike plants and animals, human thoughts can transcend time and choose according to free will. Like God.
https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6754.htm
Un- There is a ancient saying , first I was a rock. Vibration and frequency…. lowest (the rock) to highest (the human). Good point there.
What if we are stressing the wrong word here? Are we truly made IN God’s image? What if we stressed the word “in”? We literally are made in (as in within) God’s image (as in simulation). We are gestated and birthed within the simulation and just before the birth the digitized soul is inserted into the human. Welcome to the place made by God the program/simulation /all omnipotent just for us to experience the great wide open with free will. That’s when the trouble starts, I could tell you stories.
You see? Just a simple word can alter meaning. That is all I wished to point out, to those who are able to look at an issue from every angle.
Only someone who is truly attempting to reach his/her own understanding would be willing to block out the white noise and focus on the object at hand.
God is multi-faceted; therefore, to be more like him I must try and be like him, which means observing things from all angles. If this is heresy, then I truly do not understand why God would even allow me to entertain the option, to actually use the analytical brain He bestowed upon me.
Cap-Before now people could not think on a level of simulation/digitization/or spectrum of light and dimensional vibration and frequency. Actually few can, they are still hanging with the old dude in white robes with the white beard.
You should read ‘Tertium Organum’ by Ouspensky. He discusses these ideas at length, that animals have a different dimensional awareness to humans. One of the greatest neglected texts.
Wonderful suggestion, Voltara; anyone who has ever had an animal knows they see things we do not.
Animals rely far more on what they hear than what they see, something humans either never had to learn, or chose to ignore. Some suggest that if man never developed the ability to speak, he would have instead accessed his other senses, perhaps becoming telepathic.
Holy cow, if I was telepathic I would not be here typing this before they raided my house and AGOfhagnlkfdkjalkhspFHdlfasfgKALAFHLK
*shots in the background*
It says very clearly”Let us make man in our image”In the Tanaka (genesis) Elohim is a plural noun. We are made from Gods not God and we have their genes within us meaning image of our creators. Man has different faces, man is not furry and the races were born from surrogates. Man didn’t totally originate on this planet.
Let me ask Cpt. Obvious back, before I read another pot-stirring tome:
Do you understand the difference between
“[some?] human beings contain a piece of God within themselves” (same author, here)
and
“God created man in His Own image”?
Methinks C_O is being intentionally obtuse. I don’t know anyone who understands the word ‘image’ in those verses to say that we look like God 🙂 Perhaps it was meant as an indirect reference to Christ, God’s corporeal form on Earth. Or perhaps it was just something entirely spiritual that we won’t understand until after we leave this realm.
Another word for image is likeness.
I think we are like God in that we are both free and we can create and in that way we are alike. Given those two attributes we may- like God- make a world ourselves, like God made our own, even if it is infinitely smaller in scale. Whether that world is good or not is up to us, but we have the tools to do so.
I never took it to mean that we look like God physically.
I think of our true self as a ball of spiritual energy. Maybe in that way we look like God.
100% right. Soul is a swirling mass of energy made of the holy spirit, Light and Sound.
I used to think something like this until so many of the spiritualized things seemed to be true. Also Jesus has hands, etc.
Take Pharmakeia Not only sorcery anymore.
That is a really good point also HF, a shame the world we have created if indeed the evil all our doing.
Are we made in gods image? Yes, but then so was Satan, a fallen angel.
Before he fell, yes.
No. Not even then. The Cherubim are unique in all of Creation. There are only 5 known to exist. 4 carry God’s Chariot. The 5th is Satan himself. Nowhere in Scripture does it say they were made as Man was made…”In God’s Image”. That Right is reserved to Humanity…which is what pissed off 1/3 of the angelic Host and caused them to rebel in the first place!
Image= Likeness
The sons of Adam are created with the likeness of the creator. Simply, that’s not all humans. Read the bible. Gen 3 and Gen 6 will give you a small glimpse of what happened. When Cain was shunned to the land of Nod, whom did he fear would kill him? Gen 4
If we are created in Gods image, then God is a self centered asshole, with psychopathic tendencies, willing lie, cheat, steal, and murder, basically anything to satisfy his insatiable greed and lusts…..
What we truly are is a half evolved species ruled by animal instinct’s, but smart enough to create tools of destruction.
While if we exist another few million years, we may evolve into a intelligent species, it is doubtful that will ever happen, because our tendency is for self destruction.