m:m_w/

Genesis 1-2 (especially 1:26) reveals that humanity was made under God and over the rest of creation. Error occurs regarding imago Dei when this biblical tension is not maintained. Generally speaking, nearly every error in anthropology puts us up to be divine like God, or pushes us down to be animals like the rest of creation.

The former is common when human sinfulness is overlooked and/or there is an erroneous belief that we are somehow part of the divine. This is common in pantheism and panentheism.

The latter is common when humans are seen as little more than highly evolved or educable animals, incapable of denying their depraved instincts or living above their base and sinful desires. This is really a simple way of excusing and promoting selfishness, evil, and injustice with an evolutionary defense.