Augustine & Human Nature Flashcards
What does Augustine believe about human nature?
Humans deliberately planned and we are made in the image of God.
Free will
What happened in the fall?
Adam and Eve ate the fruit while having knowledge that they shouldn’t have
What happened as a result of the fall
Adam would have to work harder to grow crops
Eve suffered pain during pregnancy
Snake will crawl on its belly
Characteristics before the fall
- Adam and Eve lived in the garden of Eden
- Was in a close proximity with God
- God was their companion
Characteristics after the fall
- Banished from the Garden of Eden
- No longer see God
- Barrier between God and humans formed
- Eden guarded by angels
Augustine views on Adam and Eve’s relationship?
Adam and Eve lived in a spirit of loving friendship with God
Augustine views on the world before the fall
In a ‘state of perfection’, without sin
What 2 things did Augustine agree were essential for human
- A healthy life
- Friendship
What is Concordia
The easy, comfortable and understanding relationships that good friends have with one another
What does it mean by ‘spirit of friendship’ when referring to Adam and Eve
The highest possible human relationship you can have
What did the fall cause on humanity
Original sin
(We are all born with it)
How do we free ourselves from original sin?
Through the grace of God
Augustine and his views on good and evil
He didn’t believe there were 2 powers (good and evil) instead it was just God and he controls the evil
Types of love
Cupiditas
Caritas
Cupiditas meaning
Love of selfish needs and materials
Caritas meaning
Generous love to others
Augustine views on sexual desires
Said it was impossible to control due to human sinful nature.
Augustine views on woman
They are passive and should take a passive role in relationships
Augustine views on human society
Believes we need a political authority because the fall made it so that we cannot live together without rule
Earthly peace
Compromise made between sinful human needs. Selfish.
Heavenly peace
Heaven
How should christians live
They should act like pilgrims of foreign land. We should show signs of humility
Augustine teaching on grace
Humans could not be reconciled with God through themselves but its through the grace of God that they are forgiven
Reconciled meaning
Restore relations between
What is grace understood as?
- love and mercy of God
- quality of God capable of reaching the heart of a person
- gives moral guidance
- no human deserves
- calms the soul
- can be seen through Jesus’ sacrifice as God’s gift to us
