Augustine and human nature

Question 1

What is Augustine’s view on human nature?

Answer 1

Human nature is damaged by the Fall.

It is sinful.

Question 2

What is Augustine’s view on Grace?

Answer 2

Humans cannot do any good deeds except by God’s grace.

Question 3

What does Augustine believe about Jesus?

Answer 3

Jesus is the expression of God’s grace.

Question 4

What is God’s grace?

Answer 4

His generous, undeserved and free act of love for the world - expressed in the giving of Jesus Christ so that humans can overcome their sinful nature.

Question 5

What is a quote from St Paul that shows God’s grace is required?

Answer 5

‘What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?’

Question 6

Does Augustine believe that people can go to heaven?

Answer 6

He believes that some people will go to heaven regardless of original sin - this is elected by God through his grace.

Question 7

What does Pelagius believe about human nature?

Answer 7

He believed that humans have the capacity to do right and wrong on their own accord as they were given free will.

Question 8

What does St Paul believe about sin?

Answer 8

He believed that humans are trapped and controlled by the sin living within them and they have no say in what they do.

Question 9

What is a quote for St Paul on sin?

Answer 9

‘It is no longer I myself that do it, but it is the sin living in me’

Question 10

What does Pinker believe about sin?

Answer 10

He believes in the humanitarian principle which states that humans get on better when they take into account the interests of others.

‘Mutual unselfishness is the only way we can simultaneously pursue out interests’ -Pinker.

Question 11

What do the Manichees believe about sin and human nature?

Answer 11

The world is in a cosmic battle of good and evil meaning humans have fallen in darkness due to being trapped by their appetites.

Question 12

What do the Neoplatonists believe about sin and human nature?

Answer 12

Evil is not a substance but a turning away from good.

Humans should treat their bodies like statues and chisel away the parts which are not right.

Question 13

What does Niebuhr believe about sin and human nature?

Answer 13

He claimed that an Augustinian view would limit human responsibility. Hence, the solution is for the human ego to understand its own nature fully by building a proper relationship with God.

The ego can then understand its own limitations and possibilities.

Question 14

What is cupiditas?

Answer 14

Love for selfishness

Question 15

What is caritas?

Answer 15

Love for generosity

Question 16

How does Augustine define concupiscence?

Answer 16

He believed that people have a sexual desire and appetite for something immaterial - this desire takes control of a person.

Question 17

What does Augustine believe about the ‘Double death’?

Answer 17

The ‘first’ death is caused by Adam’s rebellious will, this is symbolised by the embarrassment of their nakedness in front of God.

The ‘second’ death is the mortal state of humans - this is God’s punishment.

Question 18

What personal experience made Augustine recognise sin?

Answer 18

When he was a child he stole a pear from somebody, not because he needed it but for the purpose of stealing.

This helped him understand that something control the way in which humans behave, beyond human understanding.

Question 19

Why did Augustine eventually reject Neoplatonism?

Answer 19

He could not understand how humans could understand goodness on their own without the guidance of God.

Question 20

What parts of Augustine’s teachings show his pesimissism?

Answer 20

We are tainted from the moment we are born.

There is little opportunity for us to develop.

Concupiscence is an extremely strong force that cannot be escaped.

His teachings on election suggest hell is a certainty for most people from birth.

We are not truly free beings.

Question 21

What parts of Augustine’s ideas show his optimism?

Answer 21

God’s grace is given to undeserved humans.

Jesus died on the cross to save humans from sin - paid a price for their sinful nature.

Faith exists as a way to point people in the direction of summon bonum.

Question 22

Quote from the Catechisms of the Catholic church on sin?

Answer 22

‘By this ‘unity of the human race’, all men are implicated on Adam’s sin…’

Question 23

Augustine’s teachings create more harm than good.

Answer 23

Too much emphasis on sin leads to a pessimistic view on humanity.

Too much emphasis on sin discourages social responsibility.

His views on sexual desire have created an oppressive attitude by authorities.

Question 24

What is an example of scientific evidence that is against the Fall?

Answer 24

Geneticists claim that the evidence we have of genetic diversity means that it’s not possible for all of humanity to have descended from two people.

Question 25

How did G. K. Chesterton agree with Augustine's claim that we are tainted by sin?

Answer 25

Argued that you could see evidence for original sin ‘in the street’.

Question 26

How does Pelagius also reject Augustine's notion of sin?

Answer 26

Augustine’s observations reflect his society, not human nature. Although it might appear that we have strong forces within us that incline us toward evil, Pelagius argues that could simply be because of the way we are raised. He claims that our upbringing is corrupted, as we are 'educated by evil' (Pelagius).

Question 27

What does Martin Luther King say in order to show how humans have progressed overtime since Augustine's time?

Answer 27

'the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice'

Question 28

What does St Paul call the grace of God?

Answer 28

A 'gift' which we cannot ‘take credit’ for earning (Ephesians 2:8). That suggests that getting into heaven is not something that human beings have the power to achieve.

Question 29

What are Augustine's views on predestination?

Answer 29

If we cannot get ourselves into heaven then God has either predestined us for heaven, or he hasn’t and our original sin damns us to hell. This view is called double predestination: that heaven is predestined for some and hell for others.

Question 30

What is Pelagius' view on predestination and punishment?

Answer 30

Pelagius argued that if we have original sin and are thus completely unable to avoid doing evil, it would surely be unjust for God to punish us for our sinful behavior.

Question 31

What quote does Augustine use from Psalms in order to justify God's grace?

Answer 31

‘All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,’ and concludes: neither can his grace be unjust, nor his justice cruel'. Augustine insists that God’s reasons and justice are beyond our understanding.

Question 32

What does Pelagius point out about God expecting humans to do morally good things?

Answer 32

It’s difficult to see why God would make these demands if original sin meant that humans did not have the ability to obey those commands.

Question 33

What biblical evidence does Augustine use against Pelagius' claim about free will?

Answer 33

Paul: 'for it is God who works in you...' (Philippians 2:13) Shows that human ability to will and do good acts are the result of God’s power working in us, not our own power.