Made in the Image of God: Understanding the Nature of God and Mankind in a Changing World
Title: Made in the Image of God: Understanding the Nature of God and Mankind in a Changing World (Revised Edition)
Author: Reid A Ashbaucher
Genre: Non-Fiction – Religion/Philosophy
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite 
Made in the Image of God: Understanding the Nature of God and Mankind in a Changing World by Reid A. Ashbaucher is a powerful book that combines religion and scripture, science and philosophy to redefine the concept of man in an age of secularism and relativism. Who is God? What is God? How is God related to man? But ultimately, what is man in relation to his creator? This book offers powerful insights into the greatness of the human person, a powerful reflection on the Biblical phrase that appears in the first book of Christian scriptures, the myth of the Genesis: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen, 1:27). But before creating man, God said: “Let us make man in our own image,” and this already indicates the community spirit of God.
Over time, man has ceased to be mysterious, to be adorned with the sense of sacredness, because he has been touched, experimented, and explored scientifically in many ways. However, the ontological truth about the human being is that he originates from God, he is a reflection of His maker. But what does this imply? In Made in the Image of God: Understanding the Nature of God and Mankind in a Changing World, Reid A. Ashbaucher discovers the face of God for readers, and develops a Christo-centric philosophy that defines life as a return to the very source, to the life of the Trinity, to a God who refers to Himself as “We.” This book is an eye-opener that will help readers better understand where they come from. It’s a powerful tool that unveils the beautiful face of God.
Review opinion from 1 to 5: Five Stars
Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers’ Favorite
Over the years, theologians and philosophers have grappled with the question of what God looks like, the origin of humankind, and man’s ultimate destiny. For Christians, it’s easy to turn to the sacred scriptures for answers, and this isn’t without any good reason. In Made in the Image of God: Understanding the Nature of God and Mankind in a Changing World, Reid A. Ashbaucher makes powerful points about the nature of man and God, and reflects on the nature of God as a Triune Being, the Trinity, Three Persons in one God. At times this book reads like a textbook; at times it comes across as Christian hermeneutics, but it is the simplicity and the clarity of its message that will surprise many readers.
In clear and beautiful prose, Reid A. Ashbaucher offers beautiful insights on God’s loving nature and creates a powerful link between God and man, a link in which man sees his image clearly, his identity, his mission, and his destiny. The whole message of this book can be summarized in the powerful biblical statement that God created man in His image and likeness. But what does God look like? Is it enough to look at man in order to understand God? The author uses scriptures and other renowned Christian writers to create a reflection that will open the minds of many to the realities, to the powerful truths about who they are. The message in this book will change the way you look at yourself, the way you think about your neighbor, the way you look at God, and the way you pray. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to deepen their knowledge of God and self.
Review opinion from 1 to 5: Five Stars
Reviewed by Ryan Jordan for Readers’ Favorite
Made in the Image of God: Understanding the Nature of God and Mankind in a Changing World by Reid A. Ashbaucher is a text about a lot of religious topics such as The Nature of God, The Nature of Mankind, The Trinity, and Jesus Christ as God and Man. There are discussions about abstract ideas, like the relationship between personhood and soulship and the way in which one interacts with the other, as well as the ideas behind omnipresence and how the personhood of God can, but doesn’t always, act in an omnipresent manner. The text is written in a clear and concise fashion with requisite conclusions being drawn and expounded upon throughout, along with summaries of previous discussions to relate the entire text back upon itself.
Many of the discussions are thought provoking and made me stop and think quite a bit. The appendix was useful for drawing strong connections outside of this text itself. I particularly enjoyed the discussions about the Holy Trinity and the way in which everything related to God and scripture. The author makes a point at the end of challenging the reader into seeking the answers on their own. I believe that using this as a guidebook can help anyone who is interested in learning more about the concepts and ideas of the Holy Trinity to better their own lives and understand theological discussions to a greater extent. Made in the Image of God: Understanding the Nature of God and Mankind in a Changing World by Reid A. Ashbaucher is brilliantly written and provocative without becoming cumbersome or laborious and, for the right audience, it is a real winner.
Review opinion from 1 to 5: Four Stars