Homo Sapiens as Homo Dei: Paleoanthropology, Human Uniqueness, and the Image of God

The biology of Homo sapiens is continuous with other hominids and the rest of life. Yet in Homo sapiens we find emergent capabilities that constitute a unique being. It is this being to whom God introduces God’s self, making possible the bearing of the imago Dei, the image of God. Much more than just a special capacity, the imago Dei is also a relationship with God and a way of life that follows. That relationship with God and resulting ethic is the highest purpose of human capacity and uniqueness, when by God’s continuing provision Homo sapiens can be welcomed as Homo Dei, people of God.