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Abstract

Humans have many relational identities that vary with changes in relationships such as being a mother or a daughter, but one's core identity remains independent of these social roles. This paper explores human personal core identity theologically by drawing on Methodism as it existed under the leadership of John Wesley, and scientifically by using three cutting edge scientific research projects: The Human Family Tree and The Human Genome Project present empirical evidence that all humans are genetically related and only one race exists - the human race. Discovering Ardi: Changing Our Understanding of Human Origins shows that humans did not evolve from apes. Wesley's theology is used, first, to develop a reference baseline for further comparative research on identity. Second, Wesley provides a means to analyze core identity and develop a theological solution allowing recognition and reclamation of one's true personal core identity. Wesley believed that all of humanity is called to be a habitation of God, as the saints of God and partakers of the inheritance that belongs to the saints. He believed that God intended that our common ancestry would foster love, binding us together as a race, and thus contribute to the solution for racism and war. With a solid understanding of one's core personal identity, one can better fulfill their many role identities because each relational identity rests firmly upon the bedrock of one's personal core identity

DOI

10.7252/Journal.01.2010S.02

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