What does it mean when we speak of human dignity? What challenges
does human dignity confront in our culture today? What is the relationship
between contemporary understandings of human dignity and the
ancient Christian doctrine of imago Dei, the view that human beings
are created in "the image and likeness of God"?
This book pursues these and related questions in the form of an ecumenical
"trialogue" by leading scholars from the three major Christian traditions: John Behr from the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Russell Hittinger from the Catholic, and C. Ben Mitchell from the Protestant tradition. The book is the first of its kind to foster an ecumenical conversation
around teachings of imago Dei and present-day understandings of human dignity. The three chapter-essays, the editor's introduction, and the afterword by Lutheran theologian Gilbert Meilaender draw from a wide array of sources, including Scripture, patristic works, ancient creeds, medieval and Thomistic writings, papal encyclicals, Protestant confessional statements, the works of modern theologians, and more.
Imago Dei will serve as an indispensable resource for those wishing
to deepen their grasp of the theological bases for Christian views of human
dignity, as well as for those who believe that Christ's words "that
they be one" (John 17:21) remain a theological imperative today. The
combination of ethical inquiry and ecumenical collaboration makes
this timely book a unique and compelling contribution to present-day
Christian thought. (Publisher)
