Introduction
The fall of humanity can be considered one of the major, and, by far, the most complicated topics addressed in the Christian religion. Incorporating a range of concepts such as sin, the Exile, the Divine Promise, death, etc., the fall of humanity can be viewed as an integral part of human destiny.
The concept of sin is typically viewed as an integral part of human nature, according to the Bible (Diffey, 2014). However, when it comes to defining sin as a phenomenon, Differ (2014) states that the subject matter can be defined as a complete and utter “departure from wisdom” (Diffey, 2014, par. 2). In other words, the concept of sin is interpreted as not only the act of wrongdoing but also the state of being misguided, as well as being under a misconception.
The consequences of the fall of the human nature, in their turn, are believed to be rooted deeply in every single person. According to the current interpretation of the Biblical events, particularly the fall of Adam and Eve, the sin that they were blamed for and their further exile from Heaven resulted in sinfulness becoming one of the bases of human nature (Corrington, 2014). In other words, the fall-planted the seeds of sin in every single human being, making it clear that the “rebellion against God’s rule” (Diffey, 2014, par. 15) triggered a deformity of the very essence of a human being.
Herein the definition of the purpose of human life lies. The subject matter has also been one of the most complex philosophical and theological problems; however, considering the information provided in the Bible closer, one will realize that the Christian teaching defines the issue in question as the need to grow emotionally, mentally and spiritually, thus, evolving into a better and a more educated person. In addition, one must make sure that they perform their Christian duties in an appropriate manner. Specifically, one is supposed to be able to identify the difference between good and evil, as well as be able to follow the path of good, no matter how hard it might seem and what obstacles might stand in one’s way.
The idea of flourishing in every way possible may differ based on the worldview of a person. To be more exact, the aspect of spiritual progress may be treated in different ways based on one’s beliefs. For instance, a Pantheistic person is likely to assume spiritual growth to be the process of reconciling with nature and recognizing one’s self as part and parcel thereof. Particularly, a Pantheist will most likely view the idea of personal and spiritual growth as a means of resolving the nature-vs.-nurture conflict (Corrington, 2014). Moreover, the fact that Pantheism is rooted deeply in aesthetical impressions deserves to be brought up (Corrington, 2014). Therefore, the personal growth of a Pantheist is likely to be focused on the progress related to the location of their place in the world rather than on establishing their relationships with God.
Process of dehumanization
The concept of dehumanization is a serious and, unfortunately, very tangible threat to today’s society. Because of a drastic shift in values and the lack of emphasis on Christian ethics and beliefs, a number of people nowadays face the threat of complete dehumanization. The phenomenon of viewing a specific social tier as less of human beings as opposed to one’s self and a particular social group is, unfortunately, an inevitable evil, yet it can be dealt with.
Human relationships must be based on the principles of equality and acceptance. However, exploiting specific ideas based on a specific kind of profiling, e.g., racial or gender-related one, worms its way into modern society. Particularly, the dehumanization and the further bullying of children can be viewed as a threat to contemporary society and the relationships between its members. According to a recent study, the dehumanization of children is likely to trigger not only social injustice but also the threat to the very existence of equality in the society (Noorden, Haselager, Cillessen, & Bukowski, 2013). Particularly, dehumanization among children often takes the form of bullying (Noorden et al., 2013). Subjecting others to unfair treatment, children create wrong patterns of interaction that will, later on, affect their lives negatively, splitting them into bullies and victims once again.
The specified phenomenon can be addressed, and the further instances thereof may be prevented from occurring with the help of enhancing the role of Christian teaching in children’s lives. For instance, children may be taught the basics of equality as Christianity views it, i.e., by mentioning the fact that all people were made equal by God: “Humanity was created in the image of God to rule on God’s behalf” (Diffey, 2014, par. 9). When creating a PSA on the topic, one should consider the use of images that promote the idea of peace and equality among men. Likewise, the videos used on the commercial should include the images and ideas that are inspired by the Christian faith, and that sustain the idea of equity among people all over the world. Educating children about the threat of inequality and dehumanization as two major threats to human relations worldwide is a crucial step towards preventing the dehumanization of society.
Reference List
Corrington, R. S. (2014). Guest editor’s introduction: Ecstatic naturalism and deep pantheism. Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture, 8(2), 139–155.
Diffey, D. (2014). The beginning of wisdom: An introduction to Christian thought and life. Web.
DiVincenzo, A. (2014). The beginning of wisdom: An introduction to Christian thought and life & Bible. Web.
Noorden, T. H. J. v., Haselager, G. J. T., Cillessen, A. H. N., & Bukowski, W. N. (2013). Dehumanization in children: The link with moral disengagement in bullying and victimization. Aggressive Behavior, 40(4), 320–328.