Arin Kinney
THEO 202- C01
November 16, 2018
Biblical Worldview Essay
Many theories and view exist on the views of the creation of humanity, man being
created in Gods image, and even the creation of the world as a whole. Specifically I would like to
focus on two different theories that we as humans are considered or viewed as robots and or
animals. According to Erickson, humans behave and respond like robots; he adds “ we perform
everyday tasks for ourselves and for our bosses if we are employed to have the same strengths
and energy to perform better than the average human” (Erickson, pg. 178). When we look at
the big picture, humans do have the tendencies to go about their jobs with accuracy and
precision and completely ignore the fact that we are neglecting our own health because we are
too busy trying to perfect ourselves and our abilities. Living in such an advanced world, I think
we all tend to forget that we are human and we do have our faults, some of those faults being
using one another to get ahead or advance further in life. Erickson tells us “that people tend to
treat others as if they are only of value if they are useful” (Erickson, pg.178), I could not agree
more with this statement. The other theory is based on humans being compared to animals,
which Erickson basically says that we have the ability to think and behave, but not as humans
but as animals, which seems to be belittling us as those who were created to be made in God’s
image, God gave us the gift of life, and he placed us above all of the animals that he created.
In Genesis 1:27-28 it says “So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them
and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the
fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground”
(NIV), this verse is thought to be the main biblical view on humanity for many different reasons.
The first reason being that humans sometimes associate the approach that we are created with
the purpose, which is to be sentient. Each and every person upon this earth was born to be
unique and special in their own way, and that is what makes us so special in God’s eyes, because
the unique gifts that we are given can be used to glorify the kingdom of God. We sometimes
forget about those wonderful gifts that we were blessed with, which can sometimes be a
downfall on our part to seek out and glorify those gifts. I feel that Romans 12:3-6 explains it best
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than
you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God
has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and
these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one
body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the
grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your
faith” (NIV). That verse gives us a summary as to how we should treat one another, because we
are all made uniquely and equally in God’s precious eyes.
The theories and the biblical view of humanity that have been discussed, compared and
contrast, both have similarities and differences. Similarities being that we have a tendency to
forget our place in this world and be who God called us to be, at the same time the biblical view
on humanity gives an explanation who we are to God and what he has called us to be.
Nonetheless, the differences of theories of humanity and the two theories discussed are that
humans view the earthly perspective towards humanity and that we are inclined to act as
animals and robots, which are creations from God that do not have feeling to seek the Lord in
any sort of way. God has given us a gift, and that gift is that we are made in his image. He gave
us the ability to feel empathy for others, love, purpose, and the ability to be able to make
decisions on our own. We serve an amazing God, and the biblical view on humanity shows us
the power that he has, and shows us that we are not alone in our daily walks with him.
References
•
Erickson, Millard J., and L. Arnold Hustad. Introducing the Christian Doctrine. Baker
Academic, 2015
•
NIV
