Imago Dei. The “image of God.” For centuries, this profound phrase in the Bible has fascinated, inspired, and perplexed people as they have pondered what it means to think, act, live, and be human.

In the book of Genesis, God creates humans uniquely “in his own image,” making them stewards over creation. People from all walks of life have offered answers about what this tells us about ourselves, often turning to philosophy and science for insight.

Is it our ability to reason? Is it morality? Is it a relationship with God? Is it creativity? For most, then and today, there is no single answer. However, modern science has shed new light on these and other human qualities.