augustine's teachings on human nature (1)

Question 1

Genesis 1:2

Answer 1

God created the perfect world and made humans in his “image and likeness” (genesis 1:26). adam and eve were harmonious and were stewards of creation, they lived in complete obedience to God

Question 2

genesis harmony

Answer 2

between human body, human will and reason

Question 3

Genesis 3 (the Fall)

Answer 3

Eve eats the fruit and gives some to Adam, they become aware of being naked and hide. God asks them what they did and punishes women by childbirth pains and ruled over by husband and men have to work hard. banished.

Question 4

augustine and the fall

Answer 4

thought it was a turning point for humanity where harmony in the garden and body was lost. augustine sees their naked awarness as the start of lust- selfish love that overtake generous.

Question 5

augustine’s teachings on the historical fall is WRONG

Answer 5

• doesnt make sense to say adam and eve were tempted because they should be prfect
• textual analysis suggests genesis has different authors
• evidence from evolution discredits genesis account in its entirety

Question 6

augustine’s teachings on the historical fall is RIGHT

Answer 6

• Christians find it useful because explain show things are and the emergence of lust
• the fall, if understood literally, challenges God’s nature
• the influence on christianity is so far reaching that must have some weight

Question 7

original sin

Answer 7

idea that with the first sin all humans have been tainted and deserve the same punishment as adam and eve.

Question 8

consupisence

Answer 8

humans inclination to sin and lust, augustine believes this now rules human reason and choose our own selfish reason.

Question 9

protestants and the fall

Answer 9

believe it has completely corrupted nature and cannot be dealt with by people alone, believe concupsience is a sin itself- catholics believe it causes sin.

Question 10

paul and augustine concupisence

Answer 10

he is driven to make the wrong choices because of it. augustine himself was effected by sexual freedom.

Question 11

‘double death’

Answer 11

augustine’s idea : first death seen in relationships that were destroyed in the fall and second death is the one we go on by being mortal

Question 12

augustine’s teachings on original sin WRONG

Answer 12

• even if the fall true, unfair for humans today to be effected by our actions from so long ago
• it is rooted in his personal struggle with sex and relationships
• demonstrates how humans have merged from many ancestors so cannot come from sin

Question 13

augustine’s teachings on original sin right

Answer 13

• idea of concupisnce links well with our experience of temptation
• physical desires being in control of us chared by some pyschologists
• original sin explains why God allows humans to commit atrocities but still remains a God of love

Question 14

predestination

Answer 14

rejected the idea that christians are free, ended up with predestination. this leaves people powerless and hope God has expressed his grace

Question 15

God’s grace

Answer 15

a free gift of love to underserving humanity. God’s grace is shown in the death of Jesus the ‘second tree’ that caused forgiveness.

Question 15

summum bonum

Answer 15

Augustine’s highest good, available for those who have faith in God and who God has chosen. he thought of summum bonum as the state of eternal happiness achieved in God’s presence.

Question 16

Augustine is right: we can never be morally good

Answer 16

• free will is a precious gift from God and must be preserved, it people dont not good
• people will always fall short of Summum Bonum perfection
• wrong to object to the idea humans can never be morally good because of God, it is humans

Question 17

Augustine is wrong: we can be morally good

Answer 17

• even augustine thought God’s grace had an impact, with his help we can
• catholics see it is an inclination, we can be good
• idea God is all loving suggests God would not be condemned

Question 18

human societies

Answer 18

augustine believed indivual corruption led to wider societal corruption, harmony of GoE lost.
he thought the state is a punishment for fallen humans but still provides some order

Question 19

city of God

Answer 19

augustine wrote of 2 cities: earthly cty where the condemned live and the city of God for the chosen. humans are a member of one.

Question 20

augustine 3 types of peace

Answer 20

peace in city of god, inner peace of those i city of god, peace that all societies aim to bring

Question 21

peace in the society

Answer 21

it is brought about by the state and material benefits. aim for higher forms of peace. augustine said states ran by those trying to inforce God, people must obey. if a state becomes christian it does not become a city of God

Question 22

there is a distinctive human nature

Answer 22

• augustine would argue there is and it has changed post fall
• some say it is dictated by gender
• Jean Jacques Rousseau- ‘man is born free but everywhere he is in chains’
• Hobbes say humans are selfish beings that need to overcome their nature

Question 23

there is NOT a distinctive human nature

Answer 23

• pyschologists may say there is no nature because we are governed memories and feelings
• existentialists say we build our idenitiy
• Locke established idea of ‘tabula Rasa’, we are born a blank slate
• indivuals cant because they need to determine their own indivual relationship with God

Question 24

Augustine was an optimist

Answer 24

• augustine teachings of Grace show this, it is undeserved
• heavenly peace is something that can be achieved, christians must choose to be good
• church helps christians on their journey and institution to guide you

Question 25

Augustine was a pessimist

Answer 25

• we are tainted through birth by no fault of our own
• there is little opportunity to devlop away from our state
• he believed that we are driven through life by consupisence