Augustine On Human Nature

Question 1

What is the meaning of Theology?

Answer 1

The study of God

Question 2

When was Augustine alive?

Answer 2

4th / 5th century AD

Question 3

What did Augustine criticise?

Answer 3

Rome

Question 4

What were the two cities that Augustine proposed?

Answer 4

The city of men
The city of God

Question 5

What is the city of men?

Answer 5

The flawed society we live in

Question 6

What is the city of God?

Answer 6

The ideal world

Question 7

How does Augustine view salvation?

Answer 7

It cannot be achieved by our own human actions, only through the Grace of God

Question 8

The Fall

Answer 8

The moment when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit.

Question 9

Human nature

Answer 9

The essential sense of what all humans are like; shared characteristics

Question 10

Sin

Answer 10

Turning away from God

Question 11

Concupiscence

Answer 11

The idea that our natural perfected state has been wounded so that we are not but but always inclining toward sin

Question 12

Human will

Answer 12

Given to humans by God at creation and used to make choices.

Question 13

Original sin

Answer 13

The state that humans were brought into by the fall, which was the first sin

Question 14

Grace

Answer 14

God’s generous, undeserved and free act of love for the world through Jesus

Question 15

Summum bonum

Answer 15

Highest or greatest good

Question 16

Predestination

Answer 16

The idea that God chooses and guides some people to salvation

Question 17

Augustine on genesis 2 and 3

Answer 17

Pre fall humans had a personal relationship with God
They had perfect harmony between the human body, will and reason

Question 18

Post Lapsarian world

Answer 18

The world after the fall of Adam and Eve.
Concupiscence - humans have a tendency to sin

Question 19

Romans 5:12

Answer 19

‘Sin came into the world through man’

Question 20

What are the two main characteristics of original sin?

Answer 20

• Double death
• Transmission of sin

Question 21

What is the first death in double death?

Answer 21

The death of the relationship with God

Question 22

What is the second death of double death?

Answer 22

The mortal state in every human as God’s punishment- actual human death

Question 23

How is the original act of disobedience transmitted?

Answer 23

Through a chain of disasters

Question 24

How is the original sin transmitted?

Answer 24

Every sexual intercourse is tainted by concupiscence- original sin passes on seminally so that everyone (except Jesus) is born in sin.

Question 25

God’s Grace

Answer 25

God’s generous, undeserved, and free act of love for the world, expressed supremely in the giving of his son Jesus Christ in order that humans might overcome their sinful natures.

Question 26

Are we just gay people pretending to be straight?

Answer 26

yes

Question 27

Who opposed Augustine’s Views on original sin?

Answer 27

Pelagius

Question 28

What did Pelagius argue?

Answer 28

It is possible to live a moral life
We can enter heaven by our own good deeds, without needing God’s Grace
We are not completely tainted by the original sin.

Question 29

Did the Roman Catholic Church adopt Augustine’s or Pelagius’ view on origional sin?

Answer 29

Augustine’s