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The Imago Dei or “image of God” is a powerful theme that runs through Scripture. It is what makes Christianity unique among the world’s religions in solving mankind’s deepest issues.

The opening chapter of the Bible states, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27).

Man – the pinnacle of God’s creation – was made as an eternal being who would live in a close personal relationship with God. We see this in the garden paradise that God established for Adam and Eve. They were to work and take care of the garden as a place where God would walk and talk with them.

In our modern era, we see an increasing number of interfaith discussions on how to deal with world problems like terrorism, climate change and pandemics. Are all worldviews equally helpful in addressing the world’s problems? How does the Christian belief that man was created in the image of God (in Latin, the Imago Dei) compare with the views of God and man held by the major world religions?

Judaism and the Unfulfilled Imago Dei

The Torah, which includes the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, fully acknowledges that man was created in the image of God. In great detail, these Five Books of Moses (also known as “the Law”) outline how man is to relate to the Creator. They detail the system of sacrifice with the elaborate furnishings and rich imagery found in the Jewish Temple.

But the writer of the book of Hebrews, found in the Christian New Testament, states that the Jewish priesthood “serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven” (Hebrews 8:5). In fact, the temple was destroyed in AD70, as prophesied by Jesus. Since that time, the temple has never been rebuilt, and the system of sacrifice remains discontinued.

In a section of the Hebrew Bible known as the Prophets, an astounding passage of Scripture portrays the Jewish Messiah as a suffering servant. This is Isaiah chapter 53, which was written approximately 700 years before the coming of Christ. In these twelve verses, God pulled aside the curtain of time to show the people of Israel their future Messiah. Through His suffering, this Messiah would make forgiveness available to all mankind.

Isaiah wrote that there was “nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). He also noted that the Messiah would be “marred beyond human likeness” (Isaiah 52:14). Sadly, this graphic description of a suffering servant went contrary to expectations. Still today, the Jewish people are waiting for their Messiah.

The Imago Dei Fulfilled in Christ

About Himself, Jesus said,” do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them” (Matthew 5:17). Jesus Christ is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) who left the glories of heaven and “became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14). In these events, the image of God was perfectly revealed to mankind.

Moreover, it is clearly stated several times in the New Testament that God’s ultimate goal for believers to be “conformed to the likeness of His Son” (Romans 8:29). Why do we need transformation? Because when sin came into the world, the image of God in human beings was marred and tarnished. But importantly, it was not lost.

This means that God desires His image to be fully restored in those who have faith in His Son Jesus. Through a process called sanctification, believers are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Christians long for the day when the image of God will be fully restored in them when they see Jesus in heaven face-to-face.

The Absence of Images in Islam

Islam incorporates altered truths of Judaism and Christianity. It regards man as a created being with some of the attributes of Allah, who is the absolute god in Islam and the source of good and evil.

But in Islam, Allah is so far above man in every way that he is not personally knowable. Man relates to Allah through obedience and good works, with no assurance of salvation. Jesus is not believed to be the Son of God but is regarded as one of the six great prophets, of whom Muhammad is the last and greatest.

The Quran, the Islamic holy book, condemns idolatry. In rejecting the pagan idols all around him, Muhammad also opposed images of humans and animals. Subsequently, Islam only allows geometrical ornamentation and calligraphy as artforms in most mosques.

Hindu Images: Many Gods

Central to Hindu worship are images, or icons, which can be worshipped at home or in the temple. There are images of a great diversity of gods, some resembling human beings with animal heads and body parts. There is also a serpent goddess, who is regarded as a primal energy in human beings. It is often stated that Hinduism has 33 million gods and goddesses.

Hindus view man as a manifestation of Hinduism’s supreme being: the undefinable, impersonal Brahman. The Hindu belief in reincarnation means that the Hindu can be caught in an endless cycle of deaths and rebirths as human beings or even animals.

This polytheistic world view puts forth a vast array of images and existences. Hinduism is vastly different to the monotheistic belief systems of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Buddhism and the Image of a Man

Buddhism began as a reaction to Hinduism. In Buddhism, there is no God in the Hindu, Islamic or Christian sense. Its founder was the Buddha – the Enlightened One – who denied the existence of a personal god and considered himself only a man.

According to Buddhist belief, man is selfless and soulless, having only temporary existence, and destined to an unexplainable state called Nirvana.

The image of Buddha prominent in Buddhist temples and shrines comes in many forms. Often it is a gigantic Buddha sitting cross-legged, with a trace of a smile on his lips, elongated earlobes and wearing a cap of snails. Many Buddhists have deified him and venerate his image, even though this is against the basic teachings of the Buddha.

As we consider the divergent worldviews for adherents of the five major world religions, we must not forget that God loves all people regardless of what they believe. As the Bible clearly says, every man, woman and child is made in His image.

Furthermore, we read that God is patient with mankind, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Still, the truth remains that out of the five major world religions, only Christians can relate to their Creator as a personal, knowable and benevolent God. Sharing this good news with mankind is why Jesus came to earth.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, You are the immortal, invisible and all-wise God who created the heavens and the earth. Thank You for Your Son Jesus, who is the radiance of Your glory and the exact representation of Your being (Hebrews 1:3).

How marvellous that You sent Your Son Jesus to earth to reveal Yourself to us. Thank You that His death on the cross has made it possible for the image of God to be restored in every person who places their faith in Jesus.

As we face the world’s problems today, give us Your wisdom to deal lovingly with those of other world religions who see God and man very differently. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Image by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash.