Augustine Human Nature Flashcards
What happened before the fa?
•God created a perfect world and humans were the pinnacle of his creation
•Adam and Eve had a harmonious relationship with each other
•God told them not to eat the fruit from the garden and Stewardship
•Augustine said there was perfect harmony between human body,human will and reason
•Before the Fall Caritas and Cupiditas are in perfect harmony (Love thy neighbour/agape)
What is Caritas?
Love for others
What is Cupiditas?
love of self
What was the Fall?
-Eve was tempted by serpent to eat the fruit and share with Adam
- they realise they were naked and made covering for themselves
-Adam and Eve hide from God because they were naked. God realise what they have done
-God punishes women by saying that women will bare childbirth and men will rule over women
What was the effects of the fall?
•Augustine’s thought the fall was a turning point for human history and Original sin have tainted through inheriting from earlier generations and they deserve the punishment that Adam and Eve received
•After the fall or Cupiditas and caritas do not work together properly.As Cupiditas become selfishness-loving just yourself without the love of others.It also become the love of impermanent changeable earthly things. The kind of selfishness makes people unhappy and keep them separate from God
Concupiscence?
-Lust and sexual desire stops people from reaching God
-There was no Concupiscence (sexual lust) before the fall as Adam and Eves caritas and cupiditas worked together perfectly
-Augustine confessions he talked about how he was a younger man he couldn’t control his sexual desires. His experience led him to believe that concupiscence prevents you from reaching God
How has human will change after the fall?
Human will have changed from harmony with selfish love and generous love In balance to one that is broken and become divided will
Augustine believe about divided will?
Augustine believe will to be divided and human are capable of knowing right and wrong but our will also has tendency towards the wrong-we are lustful,prideful,selfish
What is Gods Grace?
•Augustine believed to restore harmony through the direct action of God is Grace
•God Grace was shown in the death of Jesus on the Cross God rid of original sin
•Humans still continue to turn away from God even those who had faith in God’s Grace
Pelagius believe about heaven?
People can do the right thing if they put the effort in
Augustine believe about heaven?
Adam ruined everything people cannot be save themselves thanks to their own effort (Jesus sacrifice) only Gods Grace through Christ can save people
- Augustine believed people conscience knows right from wrong but our will is corrupted so we do things we know are wrong
Strength of Augustine view?
- Very influential:especially human nature, sin and temptation
- Augustine is realistic about human temptation, using his own experiences and his own weaknesses to highlight issues
- Recognition of human imperfection leads to moral progress.
- Hobbes agrees with Augustine that humans by nature are selfish and only work together for their own interests
Weakness of Augustine view?
- Whole argument based on Genesis: The Fall which many Christians believe is not literal or historically accurate
- Many people accept evolution and natural selection (not the ideas of being punished because of our ancestors actions).
- Is it forgiving to be eternally punished for Adam and Eve’s one mistake? And
is it fair that the only redemption is through God’s grace and pre-elected decision? - Is there any point trying to be good?
- Isn’t sexual desire healthy and not sinful? Should it be seen as something shameful and impure?
