Exploring God, Humanity, and Human Dignity in Bioethical Contexts

This essay delves into the Christian concept of Imago Dei, translating to "Image of God," and its significance in healthcare ethics. It explores how this concept, rooted in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Sufism, influences the sanctity of human life and the provision of healthcare. The essay examines the relevance of Imago Dei in healthcare, emphasizing the inherent dignity and respect due to all individuals, regardless of their background or condition. Furthermore, it presents a personal worldview on the value of a human person and how it affects stances on controversial bioethical issues such as abortion, designer babies, and stem cell research, highlighting the complexities and ethical considerations involved. The essay references key sources, providing a comprehensive analysis of the topic.

Running head: GOD, HUMANITY AND HUMAN DIGNITY
God, Humanity and Human Dignity
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1GOD, HUMANITY AND HUMAN DIGNITY
Question 1
What is the Christian concept of the imago Dei? How might it be important to
health care, and why is it relevant?
The Christian concept of Imago Dei translates in English as the “Image of God”.
Imago Dei is a Latin phrase and describes human beings. Imago Dei is a concept that comes
from Judaism, Christianity and Islam Sufism which propagates that the humans are created as
an image or likeness to god (Iozzio, 2017). It is believed by the Christian theologists that
while creating the first man, God created him as a reflection to his self and bestowed many
such abilities that he never did to other creatures. Through the fall of man from Paradise, this
likeness was somewhat lost which could only be gained through Jesus’s sacrifice. Thus,
Imago Dei is essentially a concept that makes human body sacred as the Hebrew bible
Genesis says that each human being, whatever their ability or disability, has an image of God
inherently (Cherry, 2017).
In healthcare, this idea of Imago Dei is relevant because Imago Dei leads to the
concept of sanctity of life which propagates the sacredness of human life and its superiority
over all other animals. This leads to the basics of healthcare which says that all humans
deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Their race, class, religion and socio-economic
background cannot become any kind of factor when it comes to providing healthcare
(Huckaby, 2017). This idea focuses on preserving human life over everything else and
emphasizes that this is what God’s intentions were while creating humans. Thus, in
healthcare, following Imago Dei ensures that no human is killed or ill-treated due to any
sickness or disability.

2GOD, HUMANITY AND HUMAN DIGNITY
Question 2
According to your worldview, what value does a human person have? How does
your position affect your stance on controversial bioethical issues, such as
abortion, designer babies, and stem cell research?
According to my worldview, the value of a human person is in their existence on earth
as the image of god. Human beings possess abilities that other species in the animal kingdom
do not and this makes them the most valuable (Gouni, 2019). The value of human person is in
the whole of the organism. Thus, protecting their mind and body, ensuring their wholeness
and wellbeing is important. In my worldview, the human life is precious in all forms and
thus, protecting it is necessary. Healthcare should be made available to all regardless of their
state and thus, even patients living in a nearly vegetative state are not always given
euthanasia.
Due to this worldview there are many issues in healthcare that creates duality in me
(Bernal & García, 2017). My worldview says that protecting all forms of human lives is
necessary, even in disability. This leads to the question of abortion and stem cell research.
While many may argue that abortion is free will and should be a right to the parents, many
also argue that it is in broader terms killing a life. Thus, abortion after the fetus develops a
heartbeat is particularly problematic. Stem cell research requires donation of cells, informed
consent of the subjects and formation of fetus for research purposes which also clashes with
my worldview (Currie, 2016). In case of designer babies, the idea of Imago Dei is completely
in clash with it. It is like playing the God himself and trying to imitate his abilities.

3GOD, HUMANITY AND HUMAN DIGNITY
References
Bernal, Z. D., & García, J. G. (2017). Abortion, Bioethics, and Human Emancipation: a
complex and unavoidable relationship. Social Medicine, 11(2), 70-75.
Cherry, M. J. (2017). Created in the image of God: Bioethical implications of the Imago
Dei. Christian bioethics: Non-Ecumenical Studies in Medical Morality, 23(3), 219-
233.
Currie, A. (2016). Melinda Fagan philosophy of stem cell biology: Knowledge in flesh and
blood.
Gouni, O. (2019). Prenatal Human Modification, Designing Babies and the End of Homo
Sapiens. International Journal of Prenatal and Life Sciences DOI:
10.24946/IJPLS, 3(3), 14.
Huckaby, D. K. (2017). Integration of faith and health transformation to wholeness and
restoration to the Imago Dei.
Iozzio, M. J. (2017). Radical dependence and the Imago Dei: Bioethical implications of
access to healthcare for people with disabilities. Christian bioethics: Non-Ecumenical
Studies in Medical Morality, 23(3), 234-260.