Question

What is the Christian concept of the imago dei? How might it be relevant to health care and why is it important?

Answer 1

Christian Concept of Imago Dei

Imago Dei or the image of God is the christian understanding of human beings as created in the image of God bestows dignity and honour on every person, regardless of social, mental or physaical status.it shows relation between god and human being. The term imago Dei refers most fundamentally to two things, first God's own self actualisation through mankind ans second God's care for mankind. In this human are in the image of God it represent the god's own self actualization through human being. Thus the basic concept of Imago dei is that all people should be treated with dignity and respect.

Relevence & Importance of Imago Dei to health care

The term Imago Dei is relevent because it forms the basis of understanding of human rights. The church offers her social teaching as an indispensable and ideal orientation. these principles of social justice can be considered by all those of Good will, the dignity of the human person created Imago Dei, in the image and likeness of God. We respect human dignity by recognising both a duty to care for the sick and personal responsibility for maintaining our own health. It was the Imago dei that drove the Mother Teresa to care for the sick and dying in calcutta as it has motivated christians throughout the centuries to care for the poor, the sick and disenfrenchised. We are all reated by the and only true and living creator and knowing that another human being is created in the image of god is one motivation that every health care workers should want to have care for a sick human being and give the dying a peaceful and comforting death.