Lesson 1: Theological Anthropology
Introduction
Along with the development of Catholic Tradition and concepts such as freedom, conscience, and
vocation in dialogue with the sciences, the human being is described as imago Dei, and this description
has come to mean various things. Though the definition of a human person has changed over time, one
thing has remained constant: God’s love for humans as part of his creation.
Theological Anthropology
This question is addressed by one branch of theology, which examines it through the lens of Christian
Scripture and Tradition. Theological anthropology is the name given to this branch of study. When it
comes to understanding, studying, and describing the human being, theological anthropology recognizes
that the reality of the human being is difficult to describe, and that there will always be more to learn.
Nonetheless, theological anthropology continues to reflect on the human being in light of Christian
tradition in order to gain insight into how people can better encounter God and understand their own
lives in relation to God.
In the Image and Likeness of God: Scripture and Theological Anthropology
In Christian theological anthropology, the most cited passage is from Genesis 1, the first
creation story. After
having created the earth, the vegetation, and the animals on the land and in the water, God
creates human
beings.