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,
for example due to congenital defects, trauma, or 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
scores 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?” All creatures have skills that allow them
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 week I will relate what I think it means to be made in the
image of God.

I can attest that Veggie Brothers
www.veggiebrothers.com
vegan meals are tasty and nutritious, but the owner is selling the
business.

The company has gross sales of about $125,000 and features 200
recipes. The asking price is $75,000, and the owner says “business
systems and production capabilities make the business very scalable
for larger growth”.