THE CHRISTIAN CONCEPT OF

THE HUMAN PERSON

Ronald B. Lapuz, Ph.D., CHRP, FPM, LPT

The Dignity of the Human Person
◼ Created in God’s
image
◼ Child of the Father
◼ Redeemed by the
Incarnate Son of God
◼ Temple & Indwelling
of the Holy Spirit
◼ Called to a Noble
Destiny
 ONTOLOGICAL DIGNITY

◼ The dignity (value/worth) of the human

person is based on the fundamental fact
that he/she is a human being.
 The ontological dignity of the human person
must be respected, protected…
◼ This should not be violated
and should never be
exploited (from womb to
tomb)…
◼ The worth of the person is
not based on education,
wealth, his/her contribution
to society, nor his/her
virtues…
◼ Even if he/she has lost A child of God
his/her moral dignity, the
ontological dignity remains.
2 Kinds of Dignity
◼ Gift
◼ Acquired
His moral dignity (man’s moral
standing) may be lost because of sin…
◼ However, his ontological dignity
remains.
◼ GOD is the Lord of Life.
◼ Respect the rights of our Creator.
◼ Man as long as he lives can still regain
his moral dignity--to live as a true child
of God, friend-brother-disciple of Christ,
temple of the the Holy Spirit.
NATURE OF HUMAN PERSONS
God created us :
◼ Open, Relational

◼ Rational, Conscious

◼ Embodied Spirit

◼ Historical Reality

◼ Unique yet Fundamentally Equal

 OPEN, RELATIONAL…

◼ “No man is an island…”

◼ Being a person means
being BY, WITH, and FOR
others.
 Rational, Conscious beings
◼ We image the
Creator’s knowing &
loving acts.
◼ Self-awareness.
Conscious of our
outgoing acts.
◼ Free-will
◼ This is the basis of
our moral life.
Embodied Spirit
◼ Unity between our body
& soul
◼ Natural Sacrament
◼ Created by God
◼ Dignified by Christ’s
incarnation, redemption,
resurrection.
◼ Temple of the Holy
Spirit.
 HISTORICAL REALITY…
◼ We develop as persons in discernible
stages…
This baby would not have
been alive if God had not
given it life.
For this reason, we
bow our knees
before God our Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth
comes forth.
 Historical Reality
◼ In exercising freedom, we form
ourselves… WALK towards true
freedom. Improve ourselves.
◼ We are not static… We have a
goal, a journey, a race to finish,
a task given by God…
◼ To HOPE is to march back on
our feet, even to crawl to do
God’s will… with God’s GRACE.
 UnIqUe yet EQUAL !!!
◼ Despite physical,
intellectual, social, &
moral differences – we
are EQUAL.
◼ The basis of our equality
is rooted on the truths of
the dignity of human
persons.
 How then should we treat…
“What you did to the least of
your neighbors, you did for
Me.” -- Mt. 25
◼ Our body, our life
◼ Other people
◼ Our patient
◼ The poor & destitute
◼ The handicapped, the old,
the sick & the dying
◼ Those in prison
◼ Our enemies
◼ The developing human
being…