What does it actually mean to be human?

What does it mean to be human — really? In an age of AI, transhumanism, and relentless technological "progress," Christians are making confident claims about humanity without a solid theological foundation underneath them. In this episode, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ashish Varma sit down with Dr. Marc Cortez, Dean of the Litvin School of Divinity at Wheaton College, to explore one of the most urgent and underdeveloped doctrines in Christian thought: theological anthropology.

Dr. Cortez challenges the tendency to let the Image of God do all the heavy lifting — and makes a compelling case that the human body is not merely an instrument of the soul, but is fundamental to what it means to be made in God's

image. Drawing from ancient idol language in Genesis 1, the resurrection, and modern cognitive science, this conversation reorients how Christians should think about embodiment, flourishing, technology, and even taking care of a tree.

If you've ever wondered whether your theology can hold up in a world reshaped by AI, this is the episode to start with.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Image of God (Imago Dei) uses ancient idol language — humans are the material means by which God manifests His divine presence in the world
• We cannot think well about AI, transhumanism, sexuality, race, or disability without first building a robust theology of embodiment
• The soul-body hierarchy in Christian history was never meant to devalue the body — but it almost always has
• "Spiritual maturity" and "physical health" belong on the same list — our bifurcation of them reveals a modern, unbiblical blind spot
• Before making confident claims about technology making us "less human," ask the prior question: what does it mean to be human in the first place?
• Christian eschatology (resurrected, transformed bodies) gives us more theological complexity around human enhancement than most people realize
• Dr. Cortez's shorthand for the Image of God: "We are the material means by which God is seeking to manifest His divine presence in a unique way in the world."

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To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com.

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