PHI 413V Topic 2 DQ 1
How can the Christian concept of the imago Dei inform a holistic perspective of the patient
within their family and community?
The Christian concept of imago Dei refers to the foundational relationship between God and
humans. “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may
rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,
and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So, God created mankind in his own
image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (King James
Bible, 1769/2017, Genesis 1:26-27). The bible accounts that humans are God’s highest
achievement and thus is a special relationship between them. Humans are made in God’s image,
both body and spirit, so thus imago Dei is “image of God” (White, 2022).
The imago Dei concept, with humans being the image of God, means that all humans have equal
worth no matter what. Thus, all humans should be treated equally with dignity and respect. As
nurses, we care for our patients in need, regardless of their status or differences than us (White,
2022). As healthcare professionals, we aim to follow Jesus' example by providing care to those
in need. In doing so, we recognize that our patients are a reflection of Him. This approach to
healthcare is holistic, meaning that we not only consider the physical health of our patients, but
also their emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. By taking a more comprehensive approach,
we can provide more effective care. We also recognize the inherent value of every individual
within the context of their family. This means that we involve and support the entire family in a
patient's care, recognizing their interconnectedness and the impact of illness on the family unit.
In nursing school, I learned that patient-centered care always had family influence and that
family can help, or hinder, a patient’s healing. Furthermore, we understand that the concept of
imago Dei extends beyond the family and into the community. As healthcare providers, we can
engage with community resources to provide culturally competent care and support to our
patients. This can involve collaborating with community organizations, such as in my current
workplace. My hospital volunteers with the homeless shelters to do wellness checks on people
staying there. This can help reduce the need to homeless people improperly utilizing the
emergency center.
References
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
(Original work published in 1769)
White, N. H. (2022). God, humanity, and human dignity. In Practicing dignity: An introduction
to Christian values and decision making in health care (2nded., pp. 83–124). Grand Canyon
University. https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/1000000000591/epub/Chapter2.html
How can the Christian concept of the imago Dei inform a holistic perspective of the patient
within their family and community?
The Christian concept of imago Dei refers to the foundational relationship between God and
humans. “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may
rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,
and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So, God created mankind in his own
image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (King James
Bible, 1769/2017, Genesis 1:26-27). The bible accounts that humans are God’s highest
achievement and thus is a special relationship between them. Humans are made in God’s image,
both body and spirit, so thus imago Dei is “image of God” (White, 2022).
The imago Dei concept, with humans being the image of God, means that all humans have equal
worth no matter what. Thus, all humans should be treated equally with dignity and respect. As
nurses, we care for our patients in need, regardless of their status or differences than us (White,
2022). As healthcare professionals, we aim to follow Jesus' example by providing care to those
in need. In doing so, we recognize that our patients are a reflection of Him. This approach to
healthcare is holistic, meaning that we not only consider the physical health of our patients, but
also their emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. By taking a more comprehensive approach,
we can provide more effective care. We also recognize the inherent value of every individual
within the context of their family. This means that we involve and support the entire family in a
patient's care, recognizing their interconnectedness and the impact of illness on the family unit.
In nursing school, I learned that patient-centered care always had family influence and that
family can help, or hinder, a patient’s healing. Furthermore, we understand that the concept of
imago Dei extends beyond the family and into the community. As healthcare providers, we can
engage with community resources to provide culturally competent care and support to our
patients. This can involve collaborating with community organizations, such as in my current
workplace. My hospital volunteers with the homeless shelters to do wellness checks on people
staying there. This can help reduce the need to homeless people improperly utilizing the
emergency center.
References
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
(Original work published in 1769)
White, N. H. (2022). God, humanity, and human dignity. In Practicing dignity: An introduction
to Christian values and decision making in health care (2nded., pp. 83–124). Grand Canyon
University. https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/1000000000591/epub/Chapter2.html
