What's Bad about Being in the Image of God?

In this episode of ADERABA, hosts Gilah Kletenik and Rafe Neis discuss the multifaceted and often contradictory Jewish notion that humans are created in the image of God. They explore the historical context of this idea in ancient near Eastern cultures and its interpretation through Jewish and Christian philosophical traditions. The hosts delve into the dark side of this notion, including its use in exclusionary ideologies, the hierarchies it inducts, and its potential pitfalls. They also debate whether alternative theological frameworks better address contemporary issues like climate change, ultimately suggesting a nuanced approach that balances the ideal of human dignity with a broader ecological responsibility.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:37 Personal Reflections on Being in God's Image

01:53 Historical and Scholarly Context

04:48 Theological Implications and Interpretations

08:33 Modern Applications and Misuses

11:40 Rabbinic Literature and Human Dignity

18:56 Contemporary and Controversial Uses

24:16 Exploring the Concept in Biblical Interpretation

24:53 Jewish and Christian Traditions on God's Image

25:42 Medieval Jewish Philosophy and the Image of God

26:32 Biblical Traditions and God's Invisibility

27:14 Human Representations of the Deity

28:42 The Dark Side of the Being in the Image of God

30:19 Conservative and Liberal Thought

32:09 Exclusions in Jewish Ritual

34:43 Human Responsibility in the Age of Climate Catastrophe

38:01 Debating Human Specialness and Responsibility

42:17 Concluding Thoughts and Book Recommendations

music by Dali Muru & the Polyphonic Swarm - FITH

art/logo by Rafael Rachel Neis

cosponsors UW Stroum Center for Jewish Studies and UM Frankel Center for Judaic Studies