Final answer:
The Church Fathers explained human beings' place as the summit of creation in different ways. They emphasized the dual nature of humans combining aspects of the godly and physical realms and the potential for humans to evolve and grow spiritually. The Church Fathers also highlighted the role of suffering for soul-making and improvement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief that human beings hold a special place as the summit of creation is explained by different Church Fathers in various ways:
- Ficino argued that human beings possess a soul, which combines aspects of both the godly and physical realms. This dual nature places humans at the center of the universe, making them the pinnacle of creation.
- St. Augustine proposed that human beings' fall from grace in the Garden of Eden is responsible for evil. However, humans have the potential to evolve spiritually and grow from undeveloped life to divine love through the help of God.
- According to Hick, human beings are still being created by God, and suffering is necessary for soul-making and improvement.
These explanations highlight the importance and unique role of human beings in the universe.