God Squad: What is Made in 'God's Image'?

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THE NEWSDAY | LONG ISLAND
By Rabbi Marc Gellman

NEW YORK---The Western religious belief that we are made in the image of God is both inspiring and confusing. On the most general level, it inspires us to respect every human life with a reverence and commitment we normally reserve for God. It means that people are not means to an end but an end in themselves, just like God. It means that life is holy and absolutely protected from abuse, oppression and murder. It means that our dignity and rights come from God and not from the state. Are we made in the form of God? That can't be true, since God is invisible. Jews and Muslims are not allowed to even try to depict this invisible God, and because of the belief in imitateo dei (being made in the image of God) there was also a prohibition in Jewish art of depicting the likeness of human beings. Muslims have a similar prohibition about depicting the Prophet Muhammad. May we see God in every person. [link]

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