Imago Dei and Human Dignity: An Ethical and Musicological Exploration

Abstract

This study evaluates the doctrine of Imago Dei (Image of God) and its implications for human dignity, ethics, and musicology amid the erosion of dignity in Nigeria through socio-economic inequality, political corruption, ethnic tension, and violence. It explores how Imago Dei can ground an ethic that restores respect for persons, and how music, especially sacred genres, can serve moral and spiritual renewal. Using a qualitative, descriptive method, the study examines biblical and theological sources to establish the doctrine’s relevance to human rights, dignity, and value, and interrogates its ethical implications for relationships marked by power differentials and systemic exploitation. Through a musicological lens, it shows how music reflects and promotes dignity and advocates for the marginalised. The study argues that dignity derives not from socio-political status or economic worth but from the divine imprint in every person. Findings show that music grounded in a theology of Imago Dei can cultivate communal harmony and moral sensitivity. The study recommends that churches, educators, and artists in Nigeria prioritise a relational ethic anchored in Imago Dei to foster mutuality, solidarity, and social cohesion in pluralistic societies.