Made for Relationship
Unconditional love
One of the consequences of God being moral in character is his unconditional love, a love that has meaning only because he has freedom to choose to love. This love is shown supremely in God’s love for fallen humans in sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for our sins. We too share the ability to love, because we’re made in his image.
Although there was love and communion between God and Adam, God desired that man should have a human companion, so he brought forth woman from Adam’s rib. They were able to enjoy love for each other and intimacy as one flesh. True love stems from God’s moral nature and requires freedom to choose to love, or it’s not love at all.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself
Embodied not virtual
The relationship aspect of Imago Dei helps us to think about whether my use of AI technology might affect the way in which I relate to people – does it diminish authentic, embodied soul to soul relationships with others and, of course, ultimately my relationship with God?
Various studies have shown how the manipulative algorithms in social media platforms have impacted the digital generation’s relationships and attitudes.
An holistic view
An holistic view of Imago Dei embraces the ontological, functional and relational dimensions and provides the foundation for the development of Christian ethics in regard to AI and its uses.