Seven Ways to Describe Human Beings

As I discuss in the "about" page, this blog is aims to ask questions about humanity’s relationship with technology from a Christian perspective.  But before we can dive into the rabbit hole, we need to ask the question—what is human nature?  What actually makes us human?

To begin the discussion, I’ve compiled a list of seven ways to describe human beings.  No doubt this list is not exhaustive, nor do I expect each element to go uncontested.  If you think an essential element is missing, or would alter what I’ve said about one of these elements or would remove one entirely, let me know in the comments.  My goal is to start conversations; I certainly do not have all the answers.  After all, I’m only human.

1) Created in God’s image

There are different interpretations of this phrase from Genesis 1:26.  I think one good explanation, based on the dominion mandate that follows, is that humans have a creative and productive capacity to use the earth’s resources for good ends.  In secular terms, humans are “rational animals” who must think about and plan how to do so in the best way possible.

2) Homo-Sapiens

This is perhaps the most straight-forward, but by no means least controversial, item on this list.  Our biologically-distinguishable characteristics are rooted in our genetic makeup.

3) Structurally good, directionally flawed

 

In his book Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview, Albert Wolters distinguishes between the “structure” and “direction” of creation.  Structure refers to how God originally intended creation to be, and direction refers to the extent to which it conforms to his will.  Christians recognize that Genesis 1 affirms creation’s, including humanity’s, original goodness, but also that human nature is corrupted by sin and the fall.  As such, society as a whole, Christians or otherwise, recognize to some extent that there is a difference between behaving like a “good” person and like a “bad” person, between virtue and vice, even if we disagree on the location, shape, and rigidness of that line.

 

4) Multi-dimensional

 

Human beings are comprise of physical, mental, and emotional components—needs, wants, and motivations.  A comprehensive account of human behavior, in whatever the context, takes all three components into consideration.

 

5) Communal

 

The cliché is that human beings seem wired for community with others, via family, friendships, romantic relationships, mentor-mentee relationships, educational relationships, economic relationships, etc.  These various forms of community can correspond to the three components from #4.

 

6) Heterogeneous

Human individuals have different tastes, preferences, priorities, beliefs, convictions, worldviews, talents, and abilities.

 

7) Having a soul

 

It’s often asserted that humans have souls, but less often actually argued for or defined.  It intuitively makes sense that we have souls, but I’m curious—what is actually the best argument for or definition of the human soul that you have heard?

 

I look forward to the discussions on technology and humanity that will follow.  Thanks so much for joining me, and be on the lookout for future posts!