Augustine and human nature Flashcards
What is Augustine’s view on human nature?
Human nature is damaged by the Fall.
It is sinful.
What is Augustine’s view on Grace?
Humans cannot do any good deeds except by God’s grace.
What does Augustine believe about Jesus?
Jesus is the expression of God’s grace.
What is God’s grace?
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.
What is a quote from St Paul that shows God’s grace is required?
‘What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?’
Does Augustine believe that people can go to heaven?
He believes that some people will go to heaven regardless of original sin - this is elected by God through his grace.
What does Pelagius believe about human nature?
He believed that humans have the capacity to do right and wrong on their own accord as they were given free will.
What does St Paul believe about sin?
He believed that humans are trapped and controlled by the sin living within them and they have no say in what they do.
What is a quote for St Paul on sin?
‘It is no longer I myself that do it, but it is the sin living in me’
What does Pinker believe about sin?
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.
What do the Manichees believe about sin and human nature?
The world is in a cosmic battle of good and evil meaning humans have fallen in darkness due to being trapped by their appetites.
What do the Neoplatonists believe about sin and human nature?
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.
What does Niebuhr believe about sin and human nature?
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.
What is cupiditas?
Love for selfishness
What is caritas?
Love for generosity
How does Augustine define concupiscence?
He believed that people have a sexual desire and appetite for something immaterial - this desire takes control of a person.
What does Augustine believe about the ‘Double death’?
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.
What personal experience made Augustine recognise sin?
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.
Why did Augustine eventually reject Neoplatonism?
He could not understand how humans could understand goodness on their own without the guidance of God.
What parts of Augustine’s teachings show his pesimissism?
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.
What parts of Augustine’s ideas show his optimism?
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.
Quote from the Catechisms of the Catholic church on sin?
‘By this ‘unity of the human race’, all men are implicated on Adam’s sin…’
Augustine’s teachings create more harm than good.
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.
What is an example of scientific evidence that is against the Fall?
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.
How did G. K. Chesterton agree with Augustine’s claim that we are tainted by sin?
Argued that you could see evidence for original sin ‘in the street’.
How does Pelagius also reject Augustine’s notion of sin?
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).
What does Martin Luther King say in order to show how humans have progressed overtime since Augustine’s time?
‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice’
What does St Paul call the grace of God?
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.
What are Augustine’s views on predestination?
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.
What is Pelagius’ view on predestination and punishment?
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.
What quote does Augustine use from Psalms in order to justify God’s grace?
‘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.
What does Pelagius point out about God expecting humans to do morally good things?
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.
What biblical evidence does Augustine use against Pelagius’ claim about free will?
Paul: ‘for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose’ (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.
