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A-Level Religious Studies > Augustine And Human Nature, Death And Afterlife, Knowledge Of God > Flashcards

Augustine And Human Nature, Death And Afterlife, Knowledge Of God Flashcards

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1
Q

What did Constantine do in the 4th Century

A

Made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire

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2
Q

What happened to Christians before Christianity was made official

A

They would be persecuted through death,crucified and fed to lions

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3
Q

Why is Christianity different

A

Because although they were persecuted at the time people felt the drive to become Christian even under the threat of death

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4
Q

Who were the Manichees

A

Were a group of people who believed humans have a good soul and bad soul that are constantly against each other

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5
Q

What was another name for the Manichees

A

Gnostic Sect

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6
Q

Who was a part of the Manichees

A

Augustine Of Hippo

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7
Q

What would the good soul do

A

Guides you to do good

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8
Q

What does the bad soul do

A

Drives you towards malfeasance

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9
Q

What was Augustines Mother called and what religion was she a part of

A

Monica and was a devout Christian who had large influence on Augustine to conversion

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10
Q

What influenced Augustine

A

Augustine was influenced by Greek teachings and logic of Plato hence why he tries to compare Christianity and Greek philosophy

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11
Q

What 2 books did Augustine write

A

One called ‘Confessions’

One called ‘Meditations’

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12
Q

What does Hellenistic mean

A

Is a world influenced by Greek philosophy

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13
Q

Waterford Eyre and Dean: When was Augustine of Hippo born

A

354 AD-430 AD

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14
Q

Waterford Eyre and Dean: Where was Augustine born

A

He was from the North African part of the Roman Empire

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15
Q

Waterford Eyre and Dean: When did Augustine convert to Christianity

A

In his 30s

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16
Q

Waterford Eyre and Dean: What life did Augustine have

A

He was married had a mistress and established himself as a teacher

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17
Q

Waterford Eyre and Dean: What did Augustine’s writings contain

A

Earliest references in Christian theology about creation ex nihlo

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18
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: When and Who was Christianity adopted by as the official religion

A

Early fourth century it was adopted as the official religion of the Roman Empire by Constantine

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19
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: What happened to Christianity’s earliest followers

A

Since it was a minority faith early followers were persecuted and punched with death

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20
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: What did Constantine do to Christians

A

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

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21
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: What atmosphere did Augustine grow up in

A

He grew up in an atmosphere of religious and philosophical pluralism. This included Platonism and Scepticism

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22
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: Who was Augustines Mother

A

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

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23
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: what did Augustine study

A

Rhetoric

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24
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: Where did Augustine teach

A

He taught in Carthage which is modern day Tunisia

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25
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: What group did Augustine follow

A

A thinking group called the Manichees

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26
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: What did the Manichees believe

A

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

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27
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: Who was the most important role model for the Manichees

A

Jesus

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28
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: What was Augustine influenced by

A

He was influenced by a Neoplatonist called Plotinus

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29
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: What is Neoplatonism

A

Refers to schools of thought which arose from and developed the thinking of Plato

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30
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie’s What was the Quote that gave Augustine a realisation

A

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”

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31
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: What did the Plotinus quote make him realise

A

Augustine had a revelation that evil is not a substance but rather an absence of goodness

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32
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: What conclusion was Augustine drawn to when reading the letters of St.Paul

A

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”

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33
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: How old was Augustine when he converted to Christianity

A

He was 32 where he later became a priest then a bishop

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34
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: What did Augustine do as soon as he was given a position of influence

A

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.

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35
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: How many writings did Augustine encompass

A

93 formal works. In it there was a work called ‘Soliloquies’ where his own internal voice debates with the personification of reason

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36
Q

Ahluwalia and Bowie: What was the book ‘Confessions’ about

A

It goes into insight about Augustine’s life,thoughts and puts into social context of where he lived

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37
Q

What does Augustine believe about human nature

A

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

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38
Q

What is the fall

A

Is whe Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden fruit disobeying God’s word resulting in a series of punishments on humans

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39
Q

What were the punishments God issued onto humans

A

Pain during childbirth
Pledging total respect to thier husbands
Man having to work for crops and labour

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40
Q

How did Augustine avoid lust

A

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

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41
Q

What did Augustine believe about Adam and Eve

A

He believed they loved in a Spirit of frinedship living in harmony with God and other living creatures.

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42
Q

Augustine’s understanding of the fall and effects on human nature

A

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.

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43
Q

What does the nakedness of Adam and Eve symbolise

A

The shame and lust that came from it and is a sign that the will is no longer in harmony because nakedness drives lust

44
Q

What are Augustine’s views based on

A

The opening chapters of Genesis
Letters of St.Paul
Platonic thinking ans concepts of Manicheism

45
Q

Cupiditas

A

Selfish Love. A love of worldly things and selfish desires

46
Q

Caritas

A

‘Generous Love’ a love of others and virtues

47
Q

What did Augustine believe were the effects of original sin on men women and sexuality

A

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

48
Q

Concupiscience

A

strong sexual desire

49
Q

Augustine’s belief of original sin on human society

A

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.

50
Q

Augustine’s teachings on the nature and purpose of Grace

A

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.

51
Q

Why some people think Augustine was Optimistic

A

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

52
Q

To what extend does Augustinian teaching lead to a pessimistic view of the world

A

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

53
Q

Manichaeism

A

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

54
Q

Platonism

A

Schools of thought which arose from and developed the teachings of Plato

55
Q

Double Death

A

The first death being Adam biting the apple and the second death being the moral state of every human

56
Q

Transmission of Sin

A

Due to human sinfulness and wildness original sin is passed down to offspring of humans causing an endless cycle of sinful humans

57
Q

Richard Dawkins belief on Original sin

A

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

58
Q

What does Sigmund Freud say about human nature and sexual desire

A

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

59
Q

Reincarnation

A

When the soul leaves the body of death and joins another new born body in the same world

60
Q

Disembodied existence

A

When the soul and body part leaving the body to decompose and the soul moving on

61
Q

Resurrection

A

Where the person is renewed and given a spiritual body to move on to his/her next journey in the after life

62
Q

‘Gathered to his people’

A

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

63
Q

‘Last days’

A

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”

64
Q

1 Corinthians 15-35 and 42-44

A

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

65
Q

Beatic Vision

A

Made by Aquinas and refers to the coming face to face with God

66
Q

What did Aquinas believe about the after life

A

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.

67
Q

Different Christian understandings of Heaven

A

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

68
Q

Different Christian understandings of Hell

A

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

69
Q

What issues does Hell raise?

A

Can Hell be compatible with the existence of a perfectly loving and perfectly just God?

70
Q

David Hume’s problems with Hell

A

Question the justice of God’s system because a finite sin can never deserve an infinite punishment

71
Q

Christian understanding of Purgatory

A

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

72
Q

Divine Providence

A

Belief that God has a plan for your life

73
Q

The consequences of belief in the after life on moral behaviour

A

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

74
Q

What happens to babies if they die

A

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

75
Q

Different understandings of election and their consequences

A

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

76
Q

Parable of the sheep and the goats and it’s different interpretations

A

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

77
Q

When does God’s judgment take place

A

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.

78
Q

Evaluate the idea of heaven and hell being eternal

A

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.

79
Q

To what extent is it logical to believe in the existence of purgatory

A

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.

80
Q

Faith

A

Voluntary commitment to a belief without the need for complete evidence to support it

81
Q

Empiricism

A

A way of knowing that depends on the 5 senses

82
Q

Natural Theology

A

Drawing conclusions about the nature and activity of God by using reason and observing the world

83
Q

Bonaventure the Franciscan Monk

A

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

84
Q

John Polkinghorne

A

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

85
Q

Revealed Theology

A

God revealing himself directly to humans through supernatural means

86
Q

God’s 2 Books

A

A metaphor used which states that the world and the Bible both have the same author and are complementary

87
Q

Psalms 8:3-9

A

An account which states a man looked up at the night sky and could see or sense God’s presence

88
Q

Romans 1:18-21

A

Paul agrees that ignorance has made God angry through ignoring of God’s obvious signs of existence

89
Q

Paley on Knowledge of God

A

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”

90
Q

Aquinas on Knowledge Of God

A

Demonstrated Christian Belief could be replaced with common sense. He believed common sense and belief were complementary.

91
Q

Swinburne

A

Believed human reason and powers of observation provide us with solid evidence of God

92
Q

John Calvin on Knowledge of God

A

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.

93
Q

Immediate Revelation

A

Where someone is given direct knowledge of God

94
Q

Mediate revelation

A

Where someone gains knowledge of God in a secondary/ non-direct way

95
Q

What does Aquinas call empirical and logical knowledge in summa teleologica

A

‘Scientia’

96
Q

The Gospel of John on relation between faith and knowledge

A

Portrays Jesus as the revealer of secret knowledge

97
Q

Ways God reveals Himself to people

A

Beauty of the world
Words of the prophet
Religious experiences and vision
Design of the material world
Person of Jesus
The Bible

98
Q

Through the beauty of the world

A

The creativity, existence and wisdom of God is obvious everywhere we look. Psalms 19:1

99
Q

Through the words of the prophets

A

messengers sent by God commissioned to do God’s work eg Elijah and Moses

100
Q

Through religious experiences and visions

A

God appears to people as dreams and warning and physical experiences such as Jacob’s Dream in Genesis 28-12-13

101
Q

Acts 17: 16-34

A

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

102
Q

Karl Barth on human reason

A

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.

103
Q

Richard Dawkins on revealed theology

A

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

104
Q

David Hume on faith and revealed theology

A

Faith or superstition cloud our judgment. We should look at evidence before us and decide on that basis what would be appropriate to believe

105
Q

The Barth-Brunner Debate

A

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.

A-Level Religious Studies (9 decks)

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