4A: Religious concepts of predestination

Question 1

Background to determinism - keywords:

Answer 1

• determinism
• religious determinism
• philosophical determinism
• hard determinism
• soft determinism

Question 2

Determinism definition:

Answer 2

• the theory that moral agents are either limited in moral choices they make or there are no moral choices they can make at all.

Question 3

Religious determinism definition:

Answer 3

• in religious theology, often referred to as ‘predestination’. Religious determinism revolves around the idea that God is sovereign over all things - including humanity.

Question 4

Philosophical determinism definition:

Answer 4

• idea that humanity’s free will is limited by external factors, e.g. genetics. God can still be a part of this although it’s not a necessity.

Question 5

Hard determinism definition:

Answer 5

• the belief humanity has absolutely no free will. E.g. humanity’s moral choices are 100% determined.

Question 6

Soft determinism definition:

Answer 6

• the belief that humanity has only partial free will. They are only partly determined.

Question 7

Predestination contributors

Answer 7

• St Augustine
• John Calvin

Question 8

St Augustine: part one - why humanity is predestined:

Answer 8

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Question 9

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Question 12

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Question 14

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Question 15

John Calvin background:

Answer 15

• several centuries later John Calvin also presented a predestination theology. One of the leading disgusted in the reformation.
• theory is known as ‘Doctrine of Election’.
• based on two fundamental beliefs: that God ie sovereign of all and ‘sola scriptura’. The belief that the Bible ie source of all knowledge of God.

Question 16

‘Doctrine of Election’ - part one:

Answer 16

• sinful nature
• Calvin believed humanity’s sinful nature was a result of Adam and Eve
• as a result humanity cannot choose to obey the commands of God because we are ‘totally depraved’

Question 17

‘Doctrine of Election’ - part two:

Answer 17

• however this doesn’t mean Calvin believed all of humanity was predestined to damnation. He believed some would receive salvation from God.

Question 18

What are the elect?

Answer 18

• chosen by God before they are born. Person cannot do anything during their lifetime to change it
• they have been chosen by God to have their sins forgiven, through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
• they have done nothing to to deserve this good fortunate: it is a mystery why some are chosen by God and others not
• Calvin did state that the elect could still be sinful. However God predestined them to have faith in the atonement of Jesus (irresistible grace).

Question 19

What are the reprobates?

Answer 19

• are also chosen randomly by God. Again, a person cannot do anything to change this.
• were more likely to show traits of why they will go to hell post-mortem. E.g. laziness and addiction to sinful acts. Automatically condemned to hell.
  / could still have done morally worthy actions during their lifetimes, but they would have been unable to resist sin at various points in their lives

Question 20

Limited atonement:

Answer 20

• suggesting that Jesus only died for the elect.