Augustine's teachings on human nature

Question 1

Augustine

Answer 1

From Hippo and believed that humans are not good and our own efforts will never let us achieve happiness/perfection we need God

Question 2

Background

Answer 2

1. Augustine grew up in an atmosphere of religious and philosophical pluralism that Emperor Constantine established when he converted to Christianity

Question 3

Background

Answer 3

2 . As a young man he followed the thinking of a group called the Manichees who believed the world engaged in cosmic battle between good and evil , He had a mistress and a baby as well as an alcohol addiction.

Question 4

Background

Answer 4

3. A was also very interested in Platos ideas and the thoughts of Plotinus .. particularly how he was ashamed of living in a human body

Question 5

Background

Answer 5

4. One day he went to hear the teachings of St Ambrose this renewed his interest in Christianity but he still was not entirely convinced .

Question 6

Background

Answer 6

5. His Religious experience heard the voice of a child saying Take and read on repeat and the child handed him the Bible this changed his life he became celibate and eventually a Bishop. Furthermore his works were heavily influenced by Romans and Genesis

Question 7

Romans 3

Answer 7

” Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin”
“ There is no one righteous , not even one”
“ This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe “
For Augustine Romans summarises the story of humanity and Christianity

Question 8

Imago Dei

Answer 8

humans are made in the image of God . “so God created mankind in His own image “

Question 9

Eve the temptress

Answer 9

Eve is the cause of the fall , she tempts adam and is responsible for the evil in the world

Question 10

Mary Daly

Answer 10

accuses Augustine’s exegesis of being a major cause of western Christianity’s denigration of women

Question 11

Adam and eve before the fall

Answer 11

lived in a spirit of loving friendship , lived in harmony with other living creatures and most important they lived without sin

Question 12

Concordia

Answer 12

easy , comfortable and understanding relationship that good friends have with one another

Question 13

explained evil

Answer 13

humans misuses free will and thus evil is not the fault of God

Question 14

( after the fall humans are driven by 2 types of love )

Answer 14

Cupiditas -love of earthly and changing things
Caritas - generous love of others leading to spiritual happiness

Question 15

The Fall

Answer 15

adam and eve sinned an it caused seperation between mankind and God

Question 16

original sin

Answer 16

all humans inherit a sinful nature as a result of adam , it is passed by sex

Question 17

Pelagius

Answer 17

disagreed with augustine - people could live morally , adam had just set a bad example, but it is not one everyone has to follow

Question 18

Grace of God through Jesus

Answer 18

we can be saved from sin via Jesus , Pelagius downplays the role of christ

Question 19

divided human will

Answer 19

people have God given ability to reason and recognise right from wrong but they still do wrong

Question 20

Romans 7

Answer 20

” I do not understand my actions … For I do not do good I want but the evil I do not want is what I do”