Moved From: Made in God's Image

[Tassman]

Scripture Verse: Genesis 1:26-27, JPS 1917

And God said: 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.'
And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

© Copyright Original Source

Are you suggesting that this ancient folk-tale is factually true? Come now.

In actuality it's far more likely that God was made in Man's image and is merely an idealised form of Man...just as 'heaven' is an idealised version of human society.

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This observation breaks the General Theistic 101 guidance on undermining theism. Moving to Apologetics 301 which has broader guidelines.

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[37818]

Scripture Verse: Genesis 1:26-27, JPS 1917

And God said: 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.'
And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

© Copyright Original Source

Are you suggesting that this ancient folk-tale is factually true? Come now.

Well, there are two issues with this. 1) I personally believe it is factually true. That God made man in His image, as I understand this. 2) Is more complex, but the question is, is it really factually true that "God" formed man to be in His image in some way?

In actuality it's far more likely that God was made in Man's image and is merely an idealised form of Man...just as 'heaven' is an idealised version of human society.

Yeah, just like man supposes birds to design, engineer and build nests or beavers engineer their dams.

In the other thread I gave an interpretation as to how man was created in God's image.

The human animal is the only [know to humans] that design and make what is designed. In this the human animal is like his Creator, humans being creators.

[klaus54]

Is the Imago Dei physical of some sort?

I mean what you think it is.

After all this thread is about your opinion.

[37818]

Is the Imago Dei physical of some sort?

I mean what you think it is.

After all this thread is about your opinion.

So you think being "creative" requires some certain physical form?

OK. ". . . Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, . . ." -- Colossians 1:13-15.

". . . Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: . . . " -- Genesis 1:26.

". . . Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, . . ." -- Hebrews 1:3.

". . . Jesus saith unto him, . . . he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; . . . " -- John 14:9.

Now are you happy?

[firstfloor]

God created man by breathing life into a statue He made. The existence of this magic is the reason for the prohibition on people making statues so that we do not breathe life into them and make more rival gods.

[37818]

God created man by breathing life into a statue He made. The existence of this magic is the reason for the prohibition on people making statues so that we do not breathe life into them and make more rival gods.

Where do you get this make believe?

[Jedidiah]

Where do you get this make believe?

He made it up and breathed his stupidity into it.

[Tassman]

Well, there are two issues with this. 1) I personally believe it is factually true. That God made man in His image, as I understand this.

There’s no good reason to believe it’s factually true that God made man in His image (or that God even exists)...there’s no evidence that he did apart from ancient folk-tales.

2) Is more complex, but the question is, is it really factually true that "God" formed man to be in His image in some way?

It’s far more probable that Man created God in his own image. Many gods have been “created” over the eons and they all bear great similarity to those who invented them...only bigger and better. It’s no accident that the god of the OT was a tribal god, with similar tribal values to those who concocted him.

Yeah, just like man supposes birds to design, engineer and build nests or beavers engineer their dams.

Such creatures instinctively do these things just as Stone Age Man did during his 3 million + years of existence. Although, being more intelligent, he was able to modify and develop these instincts over time. Very likely advanced AI, as the probable next stage in evolution, will be able to do even better.

In the other thread I gave an interpretation as to how man was created in God's image.

What you said was: “The human animal is the only one [known to humans] that design and make what is designed. In this the human animal is like his Creator, humans being creators”. The first part is factual to a degree, but your analogy is no more than a personal, unsubstantiated belief.

[firstfloor]

Where do you get this make believe?

The Bible + something the exquisite Aronra said recently.

[37818]

There’s no good reason to believe it’s factually true that God made man in His image (or that God even exists)...there’s no evidence that he did apart from ancient folk-tales.

There are a number of issues here. Taking the last first. 1) The ancienr [Hebrew] folk-tales. And this has two issues. Is it false just by reason it was told? Was there more than one story God made man in His image? 2) Does God even exist? Well, does existence exist? Only existence exists in and of itself. Nothing else does. Everyrhing else is contingent on existence. God,s Name in the Hebrew has the meaning of "Self-Existent."

[shunyadragon]

There are a number of issues here. Taking the last first. 1) The ancient[Hebrew] folk-tales. And this has two issues. Is it false just by reason it was told?

No, it is not false 'just by reason it was told.' The question is whether the provenance of the Genesis description is sufficient to interpret in literally that Gog's physical image is our human image.

Was there more than one story God made man in His image?

There are as many 'Creation' myths as there are ancient cultures and societies. Take your pick.

2) Does God even exist? Well, does existence exist?

Good questions! Theists do assume God exists based on faith.

Only existence exists in and of itself. Nothing else does. Everyrhing else is contingent on existence. God,s Name in the Hebrew has the meaning of "Self-Existent."

God is not necessarily the only possible explanation of 'What is source of 'everything?' and 'What is "Self-Existent?"

[Jedidiah]

There’s no good reason to believe it’s factually true that God made man in His image (or that God even exists)...there’s no evidence that he did apart from ancient folk-tales.

What sort of evidence would you expect to find from a creator who is not a part of his creation? Your "evidence" fixation is of no value to anyone seeking the truth.

[37818]

No, it is not false 'just by reason it was told.' The question is whether the provenance of the Genesis description is sufficient to interpret in literally that Gog's physical image is our human image.

Was not Tassman suggesting that because it is an ancient tale that it would not be true?

There are as many 'Creation' myths as there are ancient cultures and societies. Take your pick.

Why pick to believe a myth?

Good questions! Theists do assume God exists based on faith.

Faith that a god "exists" does not make it true. Again, only existence can exist of itself.

God is not necessarily the only possible explanation of 'What is source of 'everything?' and 'What is "Self-Existent?"

Then there is no God, in other words.

[shunyadragon]

Was not Tassman suggesting that because it is an ancient tale that it would not be true?

That is because ancient tales like Genesis are not factually reliable.

Why pick to believe a myth?

Good question! That is Tassman's point. Myths like those found in Genesis are not factually reliable.

Faith that a god "exists" does not make it true. Again, only existence can exist of itself.

. . . but existence may not include God(s). God is not necessarily the only possible explanation of 'What is source of 'everything?' and 'What is "Self-Existent?"

Then there is no God, in other words.

That is a possibility.

[seer]

Good question! That is Tassman's point. Myths like those found in Genesis are not factually reliable.

How about the myths of the Bahá'í faith?