augustine's teachings on human nature (1) Flashcards
Genesis 1:2
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
genesis harmony
between human body, human will and reason
Genesis 3 (the Fall)
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.
augustine and the fall
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.
augustine’s teachings on the historical fall is WRONG
- 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
augustine’s teachings on the historical fall is RIGHT
- 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
original sin
idea that with the first sin all humans have been tainted and deserve the same punishment as adam and eve.
consupisence
humans inclination to sin and lust, augustine believes this now rules human reason and choose our own selfish reason.
protestants and the fall
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.
paul and augustine concupisence
he is driven to make the wrong choices because of it. augustine himself was effected by sexual freedom.
‘double death’
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
augustine’s teachings on original sin WRONG
- 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
augustine’s teachings on original sin right
- 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
predestination
rejected the idea that christians are free, ended up with predestination. this leaves people powerless and hope God has expressed his grace
God’s grace
a free gift of love to underserving humanity. God’s grace is shown in the death of Jesus the ‘second tree’ that caused forgiveness.
summum bonum
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.
Augustine is right: we can never be morally good
- 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
Augustine is wrong: we can be morally good
- 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
human societies
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
city of God
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.
augustine 3 types of peace
peace in city of god, inner peace of those i city of god, peace that all societies aim to bring
peace in the society
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
there is a distinctive human nature
- 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
there is NOT a distinctive human nature
- 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
Augustine was an optimist
- 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
Augustine was a pessimist
- 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
