'image of god'

• Christians believe that human beings were created in the likeness and image of

  God.
• humans

  have been given the same mental, moral and social qualities of God.
• humans are the only part of creation to have been

  made in the image of God. Humans are different from all of God’s

  other creations and have a higher status.
• Christians have different understandings of what the term ‘image of God’

  means.
• Some christians understand it to mean that humans share some of God's nature

  and characteristics. These include the possession of a soul, a sense of right and

  wrong (morality), intelligence and the ability to reason.
• Other Christians think it means

  that humans are capable of developing complex relationships. They are able to

  experience love, compassion and empathy.
• Others think being created in the

  image of God means humans have a duty to rule over and look after the earth.

  God appointed humans to be stewards of his creation which means we have a

  God-given responsibility to care for and manage the earth.
• Genesis tells us that God gave Adam dominion over everything on earth. This suggests that humans are superior to animals and plants.