The Christian concept of the imago Dei is the belief that God created humans in His image, thus making us unique and special. It is a foundational belief in Christianity, and it has implications for how we should treat each other (Hobson & Edgar, 2019, pp. 33-43). This ideology is crucial in health care, as it provides a basis for understanding the importance of respecting and caring for patient’s physical and emotional well-being.
In the medical field, the idea that humans are created in the image of God emphasizes the value and dignity of every human being. It reminds us that all humans are worthy of equal treatment, regardless of their socio-economic class (McConville, 2018, para. 9). Under this concept, healthcare providers must be compassionate and careful when treating patients, recognizing the worth of each individual. It also serves as a reminder of the need to attend to all patients with dignity, regardless of gender, race or color.
The imago Dei is also relevant to healthcare because it provides a basis for appreciating the importance of medical ethics. Its ideology reminds us that we must attend to those seeking medical help with honesty and impartiality and that we should not make decisions based on our personal biases or opinions (Hobson & Edgar, 2019, para. 5). This concept also encourages us to practice integrity in our patient interactions and strive to provide the highest quality of care possible.
Finally, the divine image in humankind is important to the field of medicine because it encourages us to take a holistic approach to treat our ailing citizens. We should strive to provide physical and emotional care and acknowledge the importance of addressing their moral and spiritual needs (McConville, 2018, p. 213). This ideology also encourages us to emphasize the interdependence of the mind, body, and spirit when providing care and to work hard to offer our patients the best medical services possible.
References
Hobson, G., & Edgar, W. (2019). Imago Dei: Man/woman created in the image of God: Implications for theology, pastoral care, Eucharist, apologetics, aesthetics. Wipf & Stock.
McConville, J. G. (2018). Being human in God’s world: An old testament theology of humanity. Baker Academic.