PHI-413V Topic 2 DQ1 – How can the Christian concept of the imago Dei inform a holistic perspective of the patient within their family and community?
PHI-413V Topic 2 DQ1 – How can the Christian concept of the imago Dei inform a holistic perspective of the patient within their family and community?
The idea of imago Dei, or being made in the image of God, provides a deep foundation for understanding healthcare within families and communities. It means seeing each person as having value and dignity because they reflect something divine (Szczerba, W., 2020). This idea challenges healthcare workers to treat patients with respect, care, and empathy, recognizing their worth as individuals. By understanding this, healthcare can become more than just fixing problems because it can be about helping people live better lives within their families and communities. Imago Dei also reminds us that people are meant to relate to others like how God exists in a community, people thrive when they have strong relationships. This means healthcare should consider not just the patient, but also their family and community. By supporting these relationships, healthcare can be more effective in helping patients and their loved ones cope and heal together. This approach focuses on the whole person, not just their medical needs, and respects the connections that make up their life. When healthcare providers acknowledge the importance of these relationships, they can tailor care plans to address not only the patient’s physical health but also their emotional, social, and spiritual well-being (Stahl, D. et al., 2017). Additionally, involving family members and community support in the care process can lead to better outcomes and a more positive experience for everyone involved. Ultimately, recognizing the imago Dei in each individual serves as a guiding principle for delivering compassionate and holistic healthcare that uplifts both the patient and their broader network of relationships.
BUY A CUSTOM-WRITTEN PAPER HERE
References:
Stahl, D., & Kilner, J. (2017). The image of God, bioethics, and persons with profound intellectual disabilities. Journal of Christian Institute on Disability, 6(1–2), 19-40. https://halo.gcu.edu/resource/c00e4406-f50a-49f9-a174-816b575356f0?nestedResourceId=88d1d54c-794f-423c-84e2-d67b7b3e9e4a
Szczerba, W. (2020). The Concept of Imago Dei as a Symbol of Religious Inclusion and Human Dignity. Forum Philosophicum. 25. 13-36. 10.35765/forphil.2020.2501.2.
PHI-413V Topic 2 DQ1 – How can the Christian concept of the imago Dei inform a holistic perspective of the patient within their family and community? sample discussion post 2
The Christian concept of the imago Dei, asserting that all individuals are created in the image of God, offers a profound framework for cultivating a holistic perspective of patients within their family and community in healthcare contexts. Dietrich von Hildebrand’s recognition of the imago Dei as a defense against dehumanizing ideologies underscores its critical importance in shaping ethical healthcare practices. The imago Dei signifies an inherent and inalienable worth bestowed upon every human, irrespective of their health status, ethnicity, or social standing (Ibrahim, 2023). This theological principle demands that healthcare practitioners view patients holistically, recognizing their physical ailments and spiritual and emotional dimensions. Embracing the relational mandate embedded in the imago Dei, healthcare providers are called to engage with patients as partners in the shared responsibility of maintaining and caring for creation. Moreover, the imago Dei underscores the spiritual dimension of human existence, reinforcing the understanding that individuals are more than mere physical entities (Henriksen, 2020). This necessitates a comprehensive approach to healthcare that addresses the multifaceted aspects of patients’ well-being, acknowledging their spiritual and emotional needs alongside the physical. In the familial and communal context, the imago Dei encourages healthcare practitioners to recognize and respect patients’ dignity within the broader context of their relationships and social frameworks. By upholding the imago Dei, healthcare providers affirm the sanctity of life, fostering a compassionate and dignified approach that transcends medical interventions to encompass the entirety of the patient’s being within their family and community. In essence, the imago Dei is an academically grounded and assertive foundation for a holistic healthcare perspective rooted in Christian principles.
References
Henriksen, J. O. (2020). Embodied, Relational, Desiring, Vulnerable–Reconsidering Imago Dei. Neue Zeitschrift für Systematische Theologie und Religionsphilosophie, 62(3), 267-294.
Ibrahim, E. A. (2023). Imago Dei in Eastern Orthodox Statements and Implications for Inclusion of People with Disabilities in the Church: A Dissonant Relationship. Horizons, 50(1), 62-109.
PHI-413V Topic 2 DQ1 – How can the Christian concept of the imago Dei inform a holistic perspective of the patient within their family and community? sample discussion post 3
The idea that people are made in God’s image, or the imago dei, is central to Christian theology and profoundly affects how people are viewed and handled in society, particularly in healthcare and social services. The Imago Dei displays that the foundation of human worth is the poise of God. By grounding the healthcare story in a deep respect for human life, the imago Dei concept—which emphasizes each person’s intrinsic worth and dignity—reshapes the field (Melllows, 2022). The approach to patient care is radically changed when a medical professional recognizes the divine imprint in every patient. The focus is now more on treating the patient as a complex human with inherent value than treating their symptoms or health issues.
The concept of dominion or stewardship, frequently associated with the imago Dei, molds a more expansive viewpoint in the healthcare field, expanding the idea of care beyond the clinical setting (Paterne, 2020). It highlights that caring for one another as fellow bearers of the divine image is an extension of humans’ duty to care for the Earth. This means that patient well-being is recognized to be highly influenced by a range of socio-economic and environmental factors, rather than being only dependent on medical interventions. According to this viewpoint, healthcare professionals should work with families, religious leaders, neighborhood associations, and other pertinent parties to establish a setting that promotes the patient’s overall health, understanding that genuine recovery frequently results from a caring and encouraging social setting.
The idea that humans were made in God’s image, or the imago Dei, is fundamental to Christian life and practice. It may have even influenced or shaped every other Christian concept somehow. Imago Dei thus endows humanity with the responsibility to steward creation, defend the oppressed, and protect fellow human lives. PHI-413V Topic 2 DQ1 – How can the Christian concept of the imago Dei inform a holistic perspective of the patient within their family and community?
Reference
Mellows, S. P. (2022). Social transformation through affirmation of human dignity: A case study of ‘Learn to Earn’ (Doctoral dissertation, Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University).
Paterne, G. T. C. (2020). Evolution Science and Imago Dei: A Richer and More Robust Treatment of Theological Anthropology.
PHI-413V Topic 2 DQ1 – How can the Christian concept of the imago Dei inform a holistic perspective of the patient within their family and community? sample discussion post 4
The Christian concept of Imago Dei translates to the image of God. The concept is built around Genesis 1:26-27. According to the Bible verse, God created humans in his own image and likeness. God created humans on the sixth day after creating various things in the universe including the sun, moon and stars (Bohache, 2021). Humans were God’s special creation. God noted humans were special. Humans share a spiritual connection with God since they were created in his image and likeness. The concept of Imago Dei emphasizes key principles which include human dignity and worth, spiritual nature as well as responsibility and stewardship. It affirms the intrinsic worth and dignity associated with human life (Bohache, 2021). Additionally, it emphasizes that all humans are valuable regardless of their socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender or race. The concept of Imago Dei notes that humans reflect some of God’s attributes which include compassion and love (Penwarden, 2021). According to the concept, humans have an ethical imperative to treat others with compassion, dignity and respect.
The concept is crucial in healthcare and promotes holistic patient care. A holistic perspective towards healthcare notes that humans’ needs go beyond physical needs (Penwarden, 2021). Humans have psychological and spiritual needs just like physical needs. Healthcare professionals have an obligation to attend to all these needs to promote holistic wellness. The concept of Imago Dei compels healthcare professionals to look beyond physical needs during care delivery and adopt a holistic approach towards healthcare delivery.
References
Bohache, T. (2021). Ingratitude is not an option: gratitude as imago Dei. Anglican Theological Review, 103(3), 298-310. https://doi.org/10.1177/00033286211023893
Penwarden, S. (2021). A person as becoming over time: contrasting the theological view of a person as imago Dei with the narrative therapy notion of telos. Practical Theology, 14(3), 186-198. https://doi.org/10.1080/1756073X.2020.1792676 PHI-413V Topic 2 DQ1 – How can the Christian concept of the imago Dei inform a holistic perspective of the patient within their family and community?
