Do We Create God in Our Own Image?

By Ken Kapreilian

This is the collegiate edition for 2019 and has been approved for use in the Emeritus program at College of Marin. Ken is teaching on a topic that is of vital importance in the world today; Exploring the Relationship between Theology and Society.

The title of this book is a play on words from the following scripture;
“ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27)

In this book we will explore the many different ways in which our view of God is influenced and thus created. If a person believes that they are created in the image of God, then they will act, think and behave accordingly. Alternately, if a person believes otherwise (Darwinism, etc.) then they will also act, think and behave accordingly. A person’s thinking and behavior is directly related to what they believe God.

Do We Create God In Our Image? has been written to help you explore this very fascinating topic .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781300009788

Book preview

Do We Create God in Our Own Image?

Do We Create God In Our Own Image?

cover2b

Ken Kapreilian

Copyright © 2019 Ken Kapreilian on 5/1/2019. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced without prior written permission from the author.

ISBN: 978-1-300-00978-8  

Preface

Do We Create God In Our Own Image?

The title of this book is a play on words from the following verse of scripture.

"²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27).

In this book, we will explore the fact the many people have different ways in which their view of God is influenced and thus created. This exploration is necessary because many people have different views of God. We will also explore how our perspective (about ourselves and our worldview) influences our perspective of God. Consider your answers to the following questions to determine your perspective.

Now then, since humanity has been asking questions about God (in one form or another for thousands of years), will we ever have the definitive answer? 

Is there even a definitive answer to be had?

Do we have the capacity/ability to really understand God in His entirety based on our limited to human knowledge, and experience?

Or for those who believe, they will have to wait till they get to heaven to get their answers.

Our image of God is greatly influenced and shaped by what we read about in the Bible. While it is true that there are several Theophanies in the Old Testament, we should review exactly what a THEOPHANY is.  The following definition is from Nelson New Illustrated Bible dictionary;

THEOPHANY— any direct, visual manifestation of the presence of God. The key word is visual, since God makes His presence and power known throughout the Bible in a variety of ways. But even in a theophany a person does not actually see God Himself. This is impossibility, according to Exodus 33:20; 1 Timothy 6:16; and 1 John 4:12. What a person sees are the effects of God’s unmediated presence. Theophanies proper are limited to the Old Testament. They are most common in the books of Genesis and Exodus; but they also occur in the writings of the prophets, especially in connection with the calling of a prophet. The most frequent visible manifestation of God’s presence in the Old Testament is the Angel of the Lord. Other Theophanies are the burning bush (Ex. 3:1–6), the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire (Ex. 13:21–22), the cloud and fire of Sinai (Ex. 24:16–18), and the cloud of the glory of the Lord (Ex. 40:34–38).[1]

Introduction

For many people, their religious beliefs are very strongly influenced by the beliefs they were exposed to in their home. So then, by extension, we come to understand that if they were raised in a Catholic home, then they believe the Catholic perspective. If they were raised in an Orthodox home then they believe the Orthodox perspective. If they were raised in a Protestant home, then they believe the Protestant perspective.  If they were raised in a Jewish home, then they believe the Jewish perspective. Also we must dig deeper to really understand their belief regarding God and the Bible. This is done by asking the following questions;

Do you believe in God?

What exactly do you believe about God?

Do you believe in Jesus?

What exactly do you believe about Jesus?

Do you believe in the Bible?

What exactly do you believe about the Bible?

Do you believe in eternal life?

What exactly do you believe about eternal life?

By asking these eight questions and then exploring the answers, we are able to gain an understanding into why a person believes what they believe. I feel these questions can serve as a basis for determining the spiritual level of an individual and then by extension a group of people or a congregation. Here are the biblical responses to questions 2, 4, 6 and 8.

And God said unto Moses,

I Am That I Am

: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel,

I Am

hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14)

And a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him. (Matthew 3:17)

Allscriptureisgiven by inspiration of God, andisprofitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but haveeternallife.