I really appreciate the dialogue.

For myself I have no problem reconciling psychology and spirituality.

For me the origin of the term "imago" came from Didaskalos... where he got it who knows?

I beleive a lot more about the imago than I could include in that one post.

I think God made us relational beings. He put it in us to desire, connect, attach, bond and love others including Himself. It is thus harmonious for me to beleive that we should have psychological systems coded into our brains that facilitate this process.
I see a unity of body and spirit. Our spiritual needs for relationship and connection are united with physical processes in our bodies that make them happen. The oxytocin that a mother's body produces when she gives birth facilitates the bonding process with the child that is so imperative for it's survival. Does this cheapen the bond? not at all... if anything it points to the fact that bonding is what we have been created to do. For me that gives it value.

So when I say that my imago draws me to love a boy... for me that does not cheapen the actual love I have for him. It just means I'm doing what I was created to do. I thank God He's given us this "ability" to connect and I enjoy it with grattitude.

I'm not scared to look at things psychologically. I think we can understand and examine the dynamics of human relating and thinking without fear of despiritualising it. It all depends on our starting point. Often modern sciences start by assuming there is no God. I start from: I am in the image of a loving Creator. It makes all the difference.

I think it's important to know the difference between our real relationship with a person and the mental processes that we attach to the relationship which (thanks to our imagination) make the relationship "unreal". If we can, as much as possible, discern those differences then the real realationship can be healthier... and we can deal with our own "baggage" and "issues" outside of it.

Finally I think God IS a part of every loving relationship and ultimately the joy we find in each other is part of our connection and worship towards Him

Blessings
Cat.