Augustine's teaching on human nature Flashcards
Define ‘will’
The part of the human nature that makes free choices
Define ‘sin’
Disobeying the commands and will of God
Define ‘grace’
In theology, God’s free and undeserved love for humanity epitomised in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ
Define ‘the Fall’
The Biblical event in which Adam and eve disobeyed God’s command not to eat the forbidden fruit, also used to refer to the imperfect state of humanity
Define ‘Neoplatonism’
Philosophical thinking arising from he ideas of Plato
Define ‘redeemed’
Theological meaning saved from sin by God’s grace
Define ‘concordia’
Human friendship
Define ‘cupiditas’
‘Selfish love’ a love of worldly things and intrinsic desires
Define ‘caritas’
‘Generous love’ a love of others and virtues, the Latin equivalent of the word ‘agape’
Define ‘concupiscence’
Uncontrollable desire for physical pleasure and material things
Define ‘ecclesia’
Heavenly society in contrast with earthly society
Define ‘summum bonum’
The highest and most supreme good
When, of what empire and by who was Christianity first adopted as the official religion?
Early fifth century
Roman empire
Emperor Constantine
What happened to those who followed Christianity as a minority faith?
They were executed for treason because they refused to join the Roman cult
Which two Biblical writers were executed for their religion and under who’s reign?
Paul and Peter
Emperor Nero
When did Emperor Constantine adopt the Christian faith himself?
312AD
How was Emperor Constantine revolutionary to Christianity?
- Decriminalised
- Promoter of religious tolerance so didn’t try to convert people
- Large investment in Christian Churches etc.
What religious state was society when Augustine was born?
Religious and philosophical pluralism established by Constantine though he lived in the Roman Empire
Describe the beliefs of the Manichees
- World is engaged in a cosmic battle between good and evil
- People have a good and an evil soul creating internal struggles
- Human soul is in the kingdom of darkness but it is naturally part of the kingdom of light
How did Manichaeism teach about the cause of wrongdoing?
To understand the cause of wrongdoings you need wisdom, enlightenment and reason, escape from wrongdoing could be found in role models but the most important is Jesus
Which Neoplatonist was Augustine most influenced by?
Plotinus
What works of Plotinus was Augustine most interested in?
- He seemed ashamed of living in a human body
- The impermanent body and the realm of forms were opposites in many ways
- Only the form of good and self-reflection not the Manichee belief of two souls
- People should treat themselves like sculptors and chisel away the imperfections
What did Augustine conclude after reading Plotinus’ works?
Evil is not a substance is a non-existent, it is turning away from goodness so the Manichees were wrong
Why did Augustine eventually disagree with Neoplatonism?
He disagreed with his ethics because he thought that seeking a happy and reasonably virtuous life was not enough to fulfil the goal of life because then Jesus’ role would have been insignificant
After hearing who preach did Augustine feel inspired to convert to Christianity?
Bishop of Milan - St. Ambrose
After reading Paul’s letter to the Romans, what did Augustine conclude?
Humans cannot find truth through their own reason but they also need the grace of God and to reject bodily pleasure to embrace a spiritual life
When did Augustine convert to Christianity and what positions were appointed to him?
Aged 32
Priest and Bishop
What personal challenges did Augustine have when he converted to Christianity?
His mother insisted he give up on his mistress and child to marry someone else
What did Augustine see as barriers to a spiritual life after his conversion?
Freedoms of fine living and sexual relationships
How did Augustine not share Constantine’s religious tolerance?
He ordered the destruction of non-Christian places of worship and persecuted those of different denominations to him
Why couldn’t human effort and reason be enough to gain wisdom and moral goodness? (In Augustine’s opinion)
The fallen sinful nature of humanity made this impossible without the grace of God
Why is Augustine’s work ‘Soliloquies’ important?
His internal voice debates the personification of reason
Why is Augustine’s work ‘Divine providence and the problem of evil’ important?
Augustine’s answer to accusations that Christianity had weakened the Roman Empire
Describe Augustine’s early work ‘Confessions’
- Earliest known autobiographical works
- Insight to his life and thoughts in a social context
- He details his own development as a thinker and Christian
- Pre-Christian life and moral behaviour
What was the basis of Augustine’s beliefs about human nature?
The effects of the Fall on the human relationship with God
According to Christianity, humanity is understood primarily in terms of the human relationship with God which are emphasised by what three key features?
- People are created by God
- People are fallen in nature
- People can be redeemed
What do some people believe imago dei means?
Sharing something of the nature of God because they have rationality, relationality, freedom and meal nature
How does God create man in the second Genesis story?
From dust of the ground showing even though humans have stewardship, they are part of the physical, natural world. God animates man by breathing into his nostrils a life giving force
Where in the Bible is the Fall?
Genesis 3:6
What happens in Genesis 3:14-19?
Adam and Eve are punished
“I will make your pains in childbirth very severe… desire will be for your husband he will rule over you”
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it”
What did Augustine believe is essential for humans?
A healthy life and friendship because we are naturally social creatures and friendship is the highest form of social nature
How did Augustine respond to the problem of evil?
Evil is a misuse of human free will and not the fault of God
What did Augustine believe drives free will?
Love which after the Fall directs a person towards the good or the evil thing to do
Cupiditas is an (1) of will and entirely the individuals responsibility and (2), people who choose this path are (3) because they have subjected themselves to (4)
1 - error
2 - fault
3 - ignorant and unhappy
4 - human laws of social life
Caritas an expression of the (1) as (2) law displayed through the virtues of prudence, (3), temperance and (4)
1 - will of God
2 - eternal
3 - fortitude
4 - justice
Desccribe ‘original sin’
Adam and Eve passed on tendency to sin and choose a path of cupiditas through sexual intercourse so all people inherit flawed human nature
What was the thinking of Pelagius?
Man can elimate sin from their lives by acting morally as this is within human capabilities
Give a quote from Pelagius
“God would not command man to do what cannot be done by man”
Why did Augustine disagree with Pelagius?
If Pelagius was right then Jesus would be meaningless
Why does Augustine believe that the will is divided?
People still have the God-given ability to reason and and recognise right from wrong but because they corrupted their will, the are inclined to do wrong
Give a quote from Paul’s thiking in Romans 7
“sold as a slave to sin, I do not understadn what I do fr what I want to do, I do not do but what I hate to do, I do”
What did Augustine believe about sex?
People should take a vow of celibacy once they had enough children with their married partner because libido should be controllable
How did Augustine contradict his own writings on sex?
He wrote to a woman called Edicia who read his writing on living a plain and celibate life to live spiritually, she took a vow of celibacy and as a result her husband cheated, she also sold her expensive possesions and clothes - Augustine said she should have waited for mutual consent from her husband
Why did Augustine reject ‘eathly peace’
Earthly peace is just a compromise made between sinful human wills to make sure members of society have access to material goods because of their mortal interests which contradicts heavenly peace
Why did Augustine believe that earthly peace is the best sort of life for sinful people?
Only be achieved by repressive political force and structure to aim to keep people from sinning but even earthly peace is corrupted because self-control and courage are only needed after the fall but are the only two virtues which are needed for earthly peace
How does Augustine’s understanding of summum bonum compare with Plato’s?
- Only available for those elected by God
- State of eternal happiness
- Aspect of God achieved by his grace
