Augustine Flashcards
Parable of the Workers
MATTHEW 20: 1- 16
A man employs workers for his vineyard.
At the end of the day he pays them all the same amount, even though they have been working for different amount of hours.
The workers complain but the owner insists it is fair treatment, because they had previously established an understanding of payment.
Why is Pelagius not accepted by the RC Church historically?
No detail.
Augustine’s view were upheld at the Church Council of 418
What suggests that humans are distinctive?
Biblical support.
They are made in ‘imago dei’.
Genesis 1:26 “Let us make mankind in our image and likeness”
What is ‘caritas’
Generous love.
Latin equivalent of agape
What is ‘cupiditas’?
Selfish love, focused on obtaining material goods/ worldly things.
What is ‘concupiscence’?
Uncontrollable desire for physical pleasure
What is ‘ecclesia’?
Heavenly society.
What are the two on significant influence on Augustine?
- Manichaeism; believed the world is engaged in a cosmic battle. The soul is trapped in the kingdom of darkness because of the appetites of the body. Reason understands the causes if evil.
- Plotinus & Neoplatonist philosophy. He was ashamed of living in a human body. Emphasis on the intangible Form of the Good.
What are two quotations from the Catechism that shows the integration of Augustine’s thought into Church teaching?
“All men are implicated in Adam’s sin, as all are implicated in Christ’s justice”
“It is a sin ‘contracted’ not ‘committed’- a state and not an act”
How is Original Sin a double death?
Humans killed their friendship with God and became mortal.
What effect does Original Sin have on society?
Gives them a need for forceful political authority to prevent people behaving according to their sinful natures. There is a lack of stability and a corruption in all human societies.
What is Augustine’s nickname?
Doctor of Grace
What were Pelagius’ thoughts on human nature and sin?
Humans could not have a flawed nature, because it would be impossible to be holy. God would demand the impossible.
Sin is only sin if it is freely chosen. It must be theoretically possible not to sin. We are all created in Adam’s state and only responsible for our personal sin.
