Unraveling the Mystery of Human Consciousness: Made in God’s Image, We Are Set Apart

Have you ever considered what sets humans apart from the other creatures on earth? The answer lies in a remarkable phenomenon called consciousness.

However, the nature and reality of human consciousness remain an unsolved puzzle in the scientific community. Scientists do not know why and how our consciousness as humans exists in the first place, compared to animals who do not possess this consciousness.

By way of analogy, your pet dog has thoughts and feelings that are on full display when we say, “Want to go for a walk?” The dog jumps around in total delight. But is your dog self-aware like we are self-aware? No. Your dog does not say to itself, “I am aware of myself right now and that I am happy, and if I could, I would journal how happy I am today.” The dog has specific thoughts and feelings but does not possess that kind of consciousness or self-awareness.

We may think our beloved dog has this self-awareness, but it does not. Only humans have this kind of consciousness. We not only have thoughts and feelings, but we are also aware of our thoughts and feelings. We can say, “I am happy and no longer sad.” Though that seems common sense to all, scientists remained baffled about how it happens. 

Though both your dog and you have millions of neurons in the brain that enable thinking and feeling, scientists face a severe paradox about your brain in that your brain goes beyond the physical explanation of how neurons operate. Our physical brains somehow transcend the physical explanation of neural operations. Scientists acknowledge that the why and how eludes them.

The Bible Confirms We Are Different!

As believers, we should not be surprised by our special capabilities. God created us in His image, setting us apart from the rest of creation with a unique purpose and potential. Most of us have read Genesis 1:26-27, where we read, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (NIV).

In reading the Psalms, David is aware of his thoughts and emotions, expressing a wide range of feelings, from joy and gratitude to sorrow and repentance—his writings evidence introspection and self-awareness. A fish, bird, elephant, or ape will not think or feel this way.

Solomon, the wisest human who ever lived, wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:9-10, “In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.” He consciously purposed to impart wisdom. This awareness of wisdom and how it applies to oneself is foreign to every creature.

Fast-forward to today’s scientific community. Human beings are different, and scientists recognize this. Whereas all mammals have millions of neurons in the brain that enable thought and feeling, as do all humans, only humans know that they are thinking and feeling and can communicate what they think and feel like King David or Solomon. 

Can Your Dog Do That?

As we said, this continues to baffle scientists, which they call an emergent property. By that, they mean the whole (consciousness) is greater than the sum of the parts (neurons), which can’t be. The answer escapes them now. They know each of us has the capabilities I will list just below, but they do not know how we have these capabilities when animals do not!

Perhaps you have known this information, but let me ask anyway. Have you considered that you have thoughts and feelings and are aware or conscious of those thoughts and feelings, unlike your pet cat or dog? Have you known that this consciousness remains a scientific mystery, in that scientists do not know how the consciousness of thoughts and feelings comes into existence?

Scientists know several facts about our self-awareness or consciousness but cannot explain the phenomena: 

1. Awareness (I am self-aware and know that I am self-aware): When I think and feel, I can be aware of what I am thinking and feeling, whereas other creatures cannot. 
2. Introspection (I am capable of introspection and evaluation of my thoughts and feelings): When I think and feel, I can reflect on those thoughts and feelings and analyze them as healthy or unhealthy, and make appropriate changes. 
3. Communication (I can communicate my self-awareness of my thoughts and feelings): When I think and feel, I can communicate those thoughts and feelings to others; I can convey my self-awareness to another who can then be aware of my thoughts and feelings. 
4. Empathy (I can empathize with the thoughts and feelings of others): When others think and feel and become aware of these and tell me of their feelings and thoughts, I can understand them and empathize. Yes, a dog may sense when the master is sad, but it does not do this from self-awareness, introspection, or mutual understanding. 
5. Learning and Decision-Making (I can prepare and decide based on my consciousness): When I think and feel, I retain this awareness of what I feel and think, and in recalling that information, I can navigate future circumstances by making wiser and better decisions based on my recollection of past thoughts, feelings, and conclusions. 
   

Have you considered the following statements you may have made to yourself as you read this article?

• “I know that I am thinking and feeling something about this topic of consciousness.” 
• “I can evaluate my thoughts and feelings about this topic of consciousness in that I am thinking that what is written is important, and the mystery stirs me.”
• “I can communicate this information to a friend since I know what I am thinking and feeling about this topic of self-awareness, and that consciousness transcends the physical neurons will excite my friend when they hear this.”
• “This could trigger a conversation with my friend about what they have been feeling recently, apart from this topic, but it opens them up to their pain and I can empathize with their thoughts and feelings.”
• “Furthermore, this article has reminded me that I am gifted by God with the ability of consciousness, which enables me to learn from my thoughts and feelings and intentionally make decisions that benefit my future. I am not some creature reacting instinctively and with limited cognitive abilities.”

Can your dog think like this?

In conclusion, this is real, powerful, and awesome! Indeed, you are made in the image of God. And, at this very moment, something mysterious and majestic is transcending the neurons in your brain to enable you to reflect and recognize yourself, others, and God in ways that should not be happening but are!