Augustine And Human Nature, Death And Afterlife, Knowledge Of God Flashcards
What did Constantine do in the 4th Century
Made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire
What happened to Christians before Christianity was made official
They would be persecuted through death,crucified and fed to lions
Why is Christianity different
Because although they were persecuted at the time people felt the drive to become Christian even under the threat of death
Who were the Manichees
Were a group of people who believed humans have a good soul and bad soul that are constantly against each other
What was another name for the Manichees
Gnostic Sect
Who was a part of the Manichees
Augustine Of Hippo
What would the good soul do
Guides you to do good
What does the bad soul do
Drives you towards malfeasance
What was Augustines Mother called and what religion was she a part of
Monica and was a devout Christian who had large influence on Augustine to conversion
What influenced Augustine
Augustine was influenced by Greek teachings and logic of Plato hence why he tries to compare Christianity and Greek philosophy
What 2 books did Augustine write
One called ‘Confessions’
One called ‘Meditations’
What does Hellenistic mean
Is a world influenced by Greek philosophy
Waterford Eyre and Dean: When was Augustine of Hippo born
354 AD-430 AD
Waterford Eyre and Dean: Where was Augustine born
He was from the North African part of the Roman Empire
Waterford Eyre and Dean: When did Augustine convert to Christianity
In his 30s
Waterford Eyre and Dean: What life did Augustine have
He was married had a mistress and established himself as a teacher
Waterford Eyre and Dean: What did Augustine’s writings contain
Earliest references in Christian theology about creation ex nihlo
Ahluwalia and Bowie: When and Who was Christianity adopted by as the official religion
Early fourth century it was adopted as the official religion of the Roman Empire by Constantine
Ahluwalia and Bowie: What happened to Christianity’s earliest followers
Since it was a minority faith early followers were persecuted and punched with death
Ahluwalia and Bowie: What did Constantine do to Christians
He put Christians in positions of power,poured a lot of money into building Christian places of worship and gave special privileges to Christian ministry ultimately elevating the Christian faith to respectability
Ahluwalia and Bowie: What atmosphere did Augustine grow up in
He grew up in an atmosphere of religious and philosophical pluralism. This included Platonism and Scepticism
Ahluwalia and Bowie: Who was Augustines Mother
Her name was Monica and was a devout Christian who was very influential in shaping Augustine’s believes. However his father was hostile towards Christianity
Ahluwalia and Bowie: what did Augustine study
Rhetoric
Ahluwalia and Bowie: Where did Augustine teach
He taught in Carthage which is modern day Tunisia
Ahluwalia and Bowie: What group did Augustine follow
A thinking group called the Manichees
Ahluwalia and Bowie: What did the Manichees believe
They believed the world engaged in a cosmic battle of good and evil. They also believed the body was composed of a good soul and a bad soul. The good pulling towards good and the bad to bad
Ahluwalia and Bowie: Who was the most important role model for the Manichees
Jesus
Ahluwalia and Bowie: What was Augustine influenced by
He was influenced by a Neoplatonist called Plotinus
Ahluwalia and Bowie: What is Neoplatonism
Refers to schools of thought which arose from and developed the thinking of Plato
Ahluwalia and Bowie’s What was the Quote that gave Augustine a realisation
A Plotinus quite that said: “Look at the body like a sculptor treats their statue;look at it from all angles and remove the parts tha don’t look right”
Ahluwalia and Bowie: What did the Plotinus quote make him realise
Augustine had a revelation that evil is not a substance but rather an absence of goodness
Ahluwalia and Bowie: What conclusion was Augustine drawn to when reading the letters of St.Paul
He came to the conclusion that “humans cannot find the truth through their reason alone but rather require the grace of God to turn away from bodily pleasure and focus on spiritual life”
Ahluwalia and Bowie: How old was Augustine when he converted to Christianity
He was 32 where he later became a priest then a bishop
Ahluwalia and Bowie: What did Augustine do as soon as he was given a position of influence
Augustine ordered the destruction of non-Christian places of worship. He persecuted as heretics those who had a different religion or Christian understanding to him and wrote laws condemning the views of others.
Ahluwalia and Bowie: How many writings did Augustine encompass
93 formal works. In it there was a work called ‘Soliloquies’ where his own internal voice debates with the personification of reason
Ahluwalia and Bowie: What was the book ‘Confessions’ about
It goes into insight about Augustine’s life,thoughts and puts into social context of where he lived
What does Augustine believe about human nature
He described humanity before the fall as “perfect harmony between human body,will and reason. Augustine stated it was a struggle to maintain balance as the will was competed pulling humans towards sin especially lust. Human choices prioritised selfish desires and cupiditas
What is the fall
Is whe Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden fruit disobeying God’s word resulting in a series of punishments on humans
What were the punishments God issued onto humans
Pain during childbirth
Pledging total respect to thier husbands
Man having to work for crops and labour
How did Augustine avoid lust
He never let a woman near him and if he was to meet a woman he’d meet her with a friends to avoid taking action
What did Augustine believe about Adam and Eve
He believed they loved in a Spirit of frinedship living in harmony with God and other living creatures.
Augustine’s understanding of the fall and effects on human nature
Augustine believed the Fall was the ‘turning point for humanity’. The perfection of the Garden of Eden was lost and balance between body,will and reason was corrupted.
What does the nakedness of Adam and Eve symbolise
The shame and lust that came from it and is a sign that the will is no longer in harmony because nakedness drives lust
What are Augustine’s views based on
The opening chapters of Genesis
Letters of St.Paul
Platonic thinking ans concepts of Manicheism
Cupiditas
Selfish Love. A love of worldly things and selfish desires
Caritas
‘Generous Love’ a love of others and virtues
What did Augustine believe were the effects of original sin on men women and sexuality
Augustine believed humans lack control over carnal desires. Augustine also believed human desires are warped to fit their own lives without the consideration of others. Due to concupiscience original sin passed onto offspring meaning sinners create sinners
Concupiscience
strong sexual desire
Augustine’s belief of original sin on human society
Augustine believed before the fall humans were capable of living together harmoniusly without need of repressive political authority. Unlike today just like shepards to sheep the government have made a list of laws humans must abide by to maintain a civilised society. Those who break the law are like stray sheep who are rounded up and later punished for breaking the law. Augustine believed that achieving earthly peace is futile as people in their natural state are greedy and selfish.
Augustine’s teachings on the nature and purpose of Grace
Augustine believed that humans cannot be reconciled with God merely by their own efforts and reason but rather requiring the gift of God called Grace which allows humans to take part in Salvation. Alongside Paul Augustine believed that after they received Grace they would continue to sin however would have gained the ability to distinguish between good and evil.
Why some people think Augustine was Optimistic
Because not only did he list the problems but rather offered a remedy to the problem being Grace of God through Jesus Christ even though we do no deserve it
To what extend does Augustinian teaching lead to a pessimistic view of the world
Augustine’s view of human free will became more pessimistic as he grew older. This is due to constant exposure to the misuse of free will swaying his judgment. In his earlier writings he wrote about the possibilities of virtuous living and how malfeasance was the absence of good rather than an actual physical force. However in his later writings he came to the opinion that there was no escaping our fallen nature through our own efforts and that we are completely at the mercy of cupiditas
Manichaeism
A thinking group who believed that the world engaged in a cosmic battle between good and evil and believed humans had a good and evil soul
Platonism
Schools of thought which arose from and developed the teachings of Plato
Double Death
The first death being Adam biting the apple and the second death being the moral state of every human
Transmission of Sin
Due to human sinfulness and wildness original sin is passed down to offspring of humans causing an endless cycle of sinful humans
Richard Dawkins belief on Original sin
Absurd to believe the corruption of humanity rests on two individuals. He believes God is a sadomasochist as He allowed humans to sin then incarnated as Jesus to free us from sin playing the hero
What does Sigmund Freud say about human nature and sexual desire
Freud expresses the view that humans are primarily driven by sexual and aggressive instincts. Freud says human behaviour is controlled by forces outside our awareness and a person is led by primitive urges buried deep within
Reincarnation
When the soul leaves the body of death and joins another new born body in the same world
Disembodied existence
When the soul and body part leaving the body to decompose and the soul moving on
Resurrection
Where the person is renewed and given a spiritual body to move on to his/her next journey in the after life
‘Gathered to his people’
Refer that Abraham was going to continue to the afterlife and join others with whom he was familiar with loved ones or perhaps people of the same cultural or religious belief
‘Last days’
refers to a clear reference of resurrection. For example in the apocalyptic book of Daniel there is a prophecy about end of time and the writer says: “multitudes who sleep in the dust of the Earth will awake some to everlasting life and others to everlasting contempt”
1 Corinthians 15-35 and 42-44
Passage refers to our human body and our ‘heavenly’ or ‘spiritual body’. The human body can die at any time hence why is is “sown perishable” however once it has died it will be “raised imperishable” referring that the new heavenly body cannot die but live on forever in a new place of existence either where God resides or where He is absent
Beatic Vision
Made by Aquinas and refers to the coming face to face with God
What did Aquinas believe about the after life
Believed the after life would be achieved after death by living eternally outside of time in a perfect state of bliss and being in the presence of God as well as faith in God will be replaced with Knowledge of God.
Different Christian understandings of Heaven
Traditionally Christianity teaches that after death the faithful will go to heaven. Heaven is understood as a place where God lives seated on His throne and surrounded by His Angels. Some Christians believe that God rather than being in one place is present at all places at all times
The Catholic Church expresses its views on heaven based on Aquinas’ beatic vision rather than being a place where we will live forever but rather a single timeless moment of peace in the presence of God
Different Christian understandings of Hell
Sometimes is referred to as a place of eternal pain and punishment often depicted as a place where people are tortured by demons. In the Bible hell is figuratively described as a rubbish dump where all the useless people are thrown. Sometimes metaphors of agriculture are also used
What issues does Hell raise?
Can Hell be compatible with the existence of a perfectly loving and perfectly just God?
David Hume’s problems with Hell
Question the justice of God’s system because a finite sin can never deserve an infinite punishment
Christian understanding of Purgatory
Is a Catholic teaching developed by early Christian thinkers such as Origen and Augustine. It is a place or state in which after death the soul is purged or cleansed in order to enter heaven. It is an interim state between life and death
Divine Providence
Belief that God has a plan for your life
The consequences of belief in the after life on moral behaviour
In traditional belief it states that good people will go to heaven and the bad will go to hell. Heaven can be achieved by having faith in God and do good deeds as Augustine and the Bible state. “You cannot get to God through your own efforts”. With hell those commit wrongs towards both God and people will be eternally damned in
What happens to babies if they die
Some believe babies go to heaven at death for they are in a neutral state. However Augustine states that because of the original sin Adam and Eve initiated the babies go to hell because they have not been branded by Christ’s name
Different understandings of election and their consequences
Election is the belief that God chooses who goes to Heaven or Hell before the person is even born. This idea is associated with John Calvin. This doctrine arises from God’s omniscience and the fact He resides outside space and time. Some Christian’s believe in ‘limited election’ where only a few Christians will be saved. However most Christians believe in salvation which is an unlimited way of getting to Heaven through Grace. Some state that predestination is illogical as it leaves no room for human freedom hence life itself being pointless. Unlimited election is by John Barth
Parable of the sheep and the goats and it’s different interpretations
The parable simply states the end times. On the left hand side are goats and the sheep on the right. The goats represent the damned that will be told “depart from me” and thrown into the eternal fire of hell. The sheep on the right will be told “come you who are blessed and claim the inheritance I have prepared for you from the beginning”. These resembles the people of God ascending into heaven. The people who went to hell may not be bad people but rather did not take the opportunities given to them to do good
When does God’s judgment take place
Scholars such as Irenaus believed in ‘particular judgment’ which means that the dead are not sleeping but rather in a peaceful bliss or in scorching agony depending on what God has chosen for them. This is the polar opposite of ‘final judgment’ which is when whole nations are judged as well as individual persons in a final conclusion to creation. An alternative is that people go straight to heaven or hell implied by the parable of Lazarus in Luke’s Gospel.
Evaluate the idea of heaven and hell being eternal
Christian thinkers agree heaven is eternal. In Aquinas’ view for example Beatific Vision is an eternal, timeless moment rather than a length of time that stretches to infinity. This view allows an escape from the idea that Heaven will be boring. However for others the eternity of heaven is seen as an endless everlasting length of time because it is most compatible with the teachings of the Bible.
To what extent is it logical to believe in the existence of purgatory
Is is not very logical for a few reasons. One reason being Jesus died on the cross for the sole reason of crucifying our sins with Him. Therefore having to readdress sin once more as a judgment will prove that Christ’s sacrifice was unnecessary.
Faith
Voluntary commitment to a belief without the need for complete evidence to support it
Empiricism
A way of knowing that depends on the 5 senses
Natural Theology
Drawing conclusions about the nature and activity of God by using reason and observing the world
Bonaventure the Franciscan Monk
Has a writing called The Mind’s Road To God. He believed there were 3 ways of knowing God referred to as the ‘analogy of the eye’:
The eye of the flesh: knowing God through empiricism
The eye of reason: use of mathematical and philosophical reasoning
The eye of contemplation: through above and beyond faith
John Polkinghorne
Created binocular vision. Looking through one lens and seeing science and the physical word while in the other lens God and Creation. Believes science and religion go side by side rather than oppose each other
Revealed Theology
God revealing himself directly to humans through supernatural means
God’s 2 Books
A metaphor used which states that the world and the Bible both have the same author and are complementary
Psalms 8:3-9
An account which states a man looked up at the night sky and could see or sense God’s presence
Romans 1:18-21
Paul agrees that ignorance has made God angry through ignoring of God’s obvious signs of existence
Paley on Knowledge of God
Believes the natural world is sufficient to prove the existence of God. Demonstrated in his work “Natural Theology of Evidences of Existence and Attributes of the Deity”
Aquinas on Knowledge Of God
Demonstrated Christian Belief could be replaced with common sense. He believed common sense and belief were complementary.
Swinburne
Believed human reason and powers of observation provide us with solid evidence of God
John Calvin on Knowledge of God
Believed in something called ‘Sensus Divitas’ meaning innate sense of God. Used this to state humans have no excuse if they fail to worship God. Anyone who can reflect on the natural world it’s beauty and order should be able with no difficulty to understand the existence and character of God.
Immediate Revelation
Where someone is given direct knowledge of God
Mediate revelation
Where someone gains knowledge of God in a secondary/ non-direct way
What does Aquinas call empirical and logical knowledge in summa teleologica
‘Scientia’
The Gospel of John on relation between faith and knowledge
Portrays Jesus as the revealer of secret knowledge
Ways God reveals Himself to people
Beauty of the world
Words of the prophet
Religious experiences and vision
Design of the material world
Person of Jesus
The Bible
Through the beauty of the world
The creativity, existence and wisdom of God is obvious everywhere we look. Psalms 19:1
Through the words of the prophets
messengers sent by God commissioned to do God’s work eg Elijah and Moses
Through religious experiences and visions
God appears to people as dreams and warning and physical experiences such as Jacob’s Dream in Genesis 28-12-13
Acts 17: 16-34
Is a Bible passage which consists of Paul in Aeropaugus and preaching tot he Athenians about God. Natural theology can be understood by “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth”. This infers God can be seen through natural sightings of everyday life. Revealed theology is Paul preaching as God’s method to reveal Himself to the Athenians directly
Karl Barth on human reason
Objects the use of human reason to gain knowledge of God. Humans have powers of observation to gain knowledge about God through natural theology. Natural theology provides humans with a rational basis for faith however revealed theology supplies the details of faith.
Richard Dawkins on revealed theology
Believe faith does not only provide insufficient evidence for belief but is actually harmful encouraging people to be lazy in their thinking and avoid trying to reach any kind of certainty
David Hume on faith and revealed theology
Faith or superstition cloud our judgment. We should look at evidence before us and decide on that basis what would be appropriate to believe
The Barth-Brunner Debate
Barth argued there are no points of contact with God in nature as it was completely corrupted by the fall. Only God can choose to reveal himself to sinful humans
Brunner argued God’s general revelation in nature allows humans to become aware of God’s command and the sinful stare of human kind. Natural theology has a limited purpose and faith is necessary.
