This is episode 17 of the Logos Institute Podcast, the official podcast of the Logos Institute for Analytic and Exegetical Theology. In this interview with Dr Christa McKirland, we (Dr McKirland, Stephanie Nicole Nordby, and Jonathan C. Rutledge) discuss what it means to be human from a theological point of view, including different construals of what it means to be made in the image of God, whether humans can need anything without that need implying some sort of lack, and whether prior to the Fall (in their pre-lapsarian condition) humanity had certain needs that might have required an Incarnation (i.e. even had there not been a primal sin).

Here are a few time stamps to help you navigate:

1:22 - From the nature of desire to fundamental needs?

2:13 - Garrett Thompson on the nature of fundamental needs

4:21 - On distinguishing between needs and desires

5:51 - Examples of needs & comparative importance of needs

7:30 - How do fundamental needs relate to the imago dei?

11:04 - Does need entail lack?

16:22 - Inclusivity in theological anthropology & the problems with substance or capacity approaches to the image of God

23:33 - Fundamental needs pre-Fall and post-Fall

27:33 - Incarnation Anyway and Fundamental Human Needs

If you've enjoyed listening to this interview, please see other content from our guest:

1. Christa McKirland - http://logos.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/christa-mckirland/

2. LOGIA - http://logos.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/logia/

To learn more about the Logos Institute, visit our webpage @ http://logos.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk. And don't forget to follow us on our blog where we post content from friends of the institute @ http://blogos.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk. You can also find us on and Twitter (@TheologyStAs) and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheologyStAs/?fb_dtsg_ag=AdwhhK5rtawkwfYqd8WUMRUNGn_PO0l8tiKfBU-4PAc0EQ%3AAdx1Rm34w8Ln5duFF8QYwUONwpNsU_Oc4Pz4P0qkCrfO_w