Dr. Carmen Imes on Exploring Our True Identity and Discovering the Image of God

If you're feeling frustrated and disheartened by the lack of progress in promoting human dignity and human rights, despite your efforts to bring about change through petitions, protests, and advocacy, then you are not alone! Instead of witnessing a tangible shift towards a more inclusive and just society, you may be encountering apathy, resistance, and even backlash, which can leave you questioning the effectiveness of your actions and the possibility of true transformation.

My special guest is Carmen Imes

A respected voice in theological discussions and publications, Carmen Imes's scholarship illuminates human dignity's divine origins. A distinguished associate professor of Old Testament at Biola University, her insights stem from comprehensive study and immersive experiences. Dr. Imes's works include the influential trilogy, with the latest installment titled Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters. Beyond academia, Carmen shares her perspectives with a broader public, through platforms such as Christianity Today and the Politics of Theology blog. Life experiences in the Philippines and a strong commitment to enhancing human flourishing reveal her genuine passion for the subject.

• Visit her website and read her blog at carmenjoyimes.blogspot.com.
• Follow her on Twitter: @carmenjoyimes.

Diversity is not a bug, but a feature of creation, and God's intention is for us to live together in collaborative community with one another. - Carmen Imes

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Embrace a transformative journey of faithfulness in an evolving world.
• Unravel a well-rounded view of career and vocation in harmony with spiritual convictions.
• Investigate the power of adaptability in piloting life's changes without sacrificing integrity.
• Understand the essentiality of community in manifesting one's faith in real-life situations.
• Look into how to impact the world positively by demonstrating the values of the kingdom of God.

Refreshing exploration of faithfulness

Carmen Imes shines a light on the importance of exploring faith in a holistic manner. Tied to the overarching theme of human dignity and rights, her exploration of faithfulness permeates all aspects of life -- from academia to our daily interactions. By immersing ourselves in a diverse range of perspectives, we gain a more expansive understanding of faith, transforming both our own life experiences and our impact on society.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Visit the Biola University website to learn more about Dr. Carmen Imes and her work in Old Testament studies.
• Purchase Dr. Imes' book, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, to gain a deeper understanding of the concept of imago day and its implications for human identity and purpose.
• Explore Dr. Imes' previous book, Bearing God's Name, which delves into the significance of the name of God and its implications for our lives.
• Stay tuned for Dr. Imes' forthcoming book, which will further explore the topic of human dignity and its importance.
• Check out Dr. Imes' writing on Christianity Today, The Well, and Politics of Theology blog to engage with her thoughts and perspectives on various topics.
• Reflect on your own understanding of human dignity and how you can better recognize and affirm the inherent worth of every person you encounter.
• Educate yourself on the history of Christianity and the ways in which Christians have sometimes failed to live out the values of dignity and respect for all.
• Engage in conversations with people from different religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds to foster understanding and empathy.
• Challenge any biases

Our identity is not something that we self-construct or that we're responsible for coming up with ourselves or creating ourselves, but that it's given to us by God and that every human being is inherently valuable and has inherent dignity. - Carmen Imes

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:02 - Introduction,

00:03:22 - Understanding Imago Dei,

00:06:35 - Christians and Mistreatment of Others,

00:10:00 - Acknowledging Mistreatment by Christians,

00:11:41 - Learning from Cross-Cultural Experiences,

00:16:44 - Celebrating Diversity and Different Perspectives,

00:18:03 - Lack of Representation in Theological Education,

00:20:48 - Addressing Human Rights Abuses in the US,

00:25:19 - The Value of Minority Perspectives,

00:28:49 - Embracing Equality and God's Design,

00:31:41 - The Original Vision for Creation,

00:32:38 - Loving Ourselves and Others,

00:33:41 - Microaggressions and Difficult Conversations,

00:34:14 - Benevolent Stewardship,

00:38:53 - The Restorative Power of Rest,

00:46:39 - Conclusion,

This is why we need to listen to diverse voices because they are noticing and having the courage to speak out about things that the majority culture is either not seeing or it would cost them too much to say. - Carmen Imes

Timestamped summary of this episode:

00:00:02 - Introduction,

Lori Adams Brown introduces the podcast and introduces Dr. Carmen Imes as the guest for the episode. They will be discussing Dr. Imes's book, "Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters" and the concept of imago Dei.

00:03:22 - Understanding Imago Dei,

Dr. Imes explains the concept of imago Dei, which means "image of God." She emphasizes that every human being, regardless of religion, gender, or race, is created by God with inherent dignity and worth.

00:06:35 - Christians and Mistreatment of Others,

Dr. Imes acknowledges the historical and current mistreatment of others by Christians. She apologizes for the harm caused and encourages Christians to rethink their engagement with the world, seeing others as fellow images of God.

00:10:00 - Acknowledging Mistreatment by Christians,

Dr. Imes apologizes to anyone who has personally been hurt by Christians or the Church. She affirms that mistreatment does not align with God's heart and emphasizes the importance of recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of all human beings.

00:11:41 - Learning from Cross-Cultural Experiences,

Dr. Imes shares her experiences living in the Philippines and interacting with people from different cultures. She discusses how these experiences have opened her eyes to a wider world and the need to read more globally to understand and engage with others better.

00:16:44 - Celebrating Diversity and Different Perspectives,

The podcast is about celebrating the different gifts and strengths we all have and learning from each other. The guest shares her experience of growing up in Latin America and learning about liberation theology. She also mentions the importance of diverse voices in academia and reading books by authors from different backgrounds.

00:18:03 - Lack of Representation in Theological Education,

The guest reflects on her experience in seminary and the lack of representation of women and non-white scholars in the textbooks and reading lists. She emphasizes the importance of diversifying the voices we listen to and the need to include perspectives from women and people of color in theological education.

00:20:48 - Addressing Human Rights Abuses in the US,

The conversation shifts to the issue of human rights abuses in the US, particularly within white evangelical circles. The guest points out the tendency to focus on abuses in other countries while ignoring the problems within their own communities. She encourages white evangelicals to listen to diverse voices and recognize the issues present in their own context.

00:25:19 - The Value of Minority Perspectives,

The guest shares a story from the book of Jeremiah that highlights the value of minority perspectives in recognizing and addressing human rights violations. She emphasizes the importance of listening to diverse voices and the unique insights they bring to the conversation.

00:28:49 - Embracing Equality and God's Design,

The conversation concludes with a discussion on gender equality in the church. The guest encourages readers to reflect

00:31:41 - The Original Vision for Creation,

Carmen Imes emphasizes the importance of going back to Genesis 1 and 2 to understand God's original design for humanity. She encourages listeners to work towards God's ideal of human flourishing rather than perpetuating the fallen world of Genesis 3.

00:32:38 - Loving Ourselves and Others,

Imes highlights the importance of loving ourselves as women and rejecting the idea that we are secondary or lesser than men. She also emphasizes Jesus' message of loving our neighbor as ourselves, which includes embracing our own worth.

00:33:41 - Microaggressions and Difficult Conversations,

Imes acknowledges the challenges women face when discussing gender equality and the resistance they often encounter. She expresses gratitude for those who persist in having these conversations in difficult spaces.

00:34:14 - Benevolent Stewardship,

Imes discusses the concept of ruling as a form of benevolent stewardship. She highlights the importance of creating space for others to flourish and the responsibility to share resources for the well-being of both humans and animals.

00:38:53 - The Restorative Power of Rest,

Imes emphasizes the significance of rest and the Sabbath as a counter-cultural practice in a society that values constant productivity. She highlights the need to recognize our limitations and the importance of resting for our own well-being and the well-being of others.

00:46:39 - Conclusion,

The conversation comes to an end as the guest says goodbye.

Refreshing exploration of faithfulness

Carmen Imes shines a light on the importance of exploring faith in a holistic manner. Tied to the overarching theme of human dignity and rights, her exploration of faithfulness permeates all aspects of life -- from academia to our daily interactions. By immersing ourselves in a diverse range of perspectives, we gain a more expansive understanding of faith, transforming both our own life experiences and our impact on society.

Follow the podcast at:

• https://www.youtube.com/@aworldofdifference
• https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/aworldofdifference/
• https://www.twitter.com/@awodpod
• https://www.instagram.com/aworldof.difference/

Join our Difference Maker membership community for a ton of exclusive content for as little as $5/month. Lori's Travel Tips are included as well as exclusive minisodes with our guests. Join for deeper conversations and a little fun today at https://www.patreon.com/aworldofdifference

Follow the podcast at:

• https://www.youtube.com/@aworldofdifference
• https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/aworldofdifference/
• https://www.twitter.com/@awodpod
• https://www.instagram.com/aworldof.difference/

Join our Difference Maker membership community for a ton of exclusive content for as little as $5/month. (The price of your a latte at your local coffee shop to enjoy a whole month of content.) Lori's Travel Tips are included as well as exclusive minisodes with our guests not available anywhere else. Join for deeper conversations and a little fun today at https://www.patreon.com/aworldofdifference

Keep making a difference wherever you are!

Lori Adams-Brown, Host & Executive Producer

A World of Difference Podcast