EVAL- Is Augustine's teachings on a historical Fall and Original Sin wrong? Flashcards
YES- myths not historical figures
Biblical story isn’t true
Augustine’s account implies we were all once super rational people- no evidence for this- ‘Pre Darwinian nonsense’. Weakens SA- destroys idea of original sin s being caused by the misbehaviour of A+E. Augustine is wrong.
YES- Logical contradiction
Logical contradiction in believing a perfect creation could go wrong.
If world was perfect created in imago dei it shouldn’t have gone wrong as humans in the image of God.
Fredrich Schliermacher- EVIL CANT CREATE ITSELF OUT OF PERFECTION .Gods creatures chose to disobey him- suggests there was a knowledge of evil. This could only come from God.
Credible- Eradicates idea of original sin- God must have created sin, not humans. It is counterintuitive to believe a perfect world would have sin in.
YES- Criticised on scientific level
Augustine’s account implies we were once rational ‘super people’ goes against ToE (proposed by Charles Darwin). This is a weak idea as there is no evidence for this. Unfair to inflict original sin on humanity for a simple mistake from humans just like us. A+E weren’t super human. In fact, ToE highlights how humans have developed gradually into better people, not gone backwards from the first humans. Goes against science
NO- Justified
Punishment for sin is justified- When all humans are left to their own devices they are selfish, cruel and fail to act in their best interests. Evident in concupiscence and divided will- Humans give into lust and have a desire to do the wrong thing even though they know its wrong. Weak argument- why should humans through generations be punished for sins that they didn’t commit from thousands of years ago. They should only be punished for their own sins, that is logical and fair.
NO- Original sin is highlighted by CCC
CCC- ‘How did the sin of Adam become sin of all descendants? The whole race is Adam?’- Highlights how all men are implicated in Adams sin. LACKS SIGNIFICANCE- Raises question Why would God want to punish all of his most loved part of creation due to the mistake of two humans. This doesn’t reflect a God of classical theism- if he is all loving why would his creation inherit original sin?
YES- Moral error
Christopher Hutchins- Likens to totalitarnism- Why do all people have an involvement in sins they have not committed. Religion is immoral- it is unethical to tell children they must be scared of God yet love him unconditionally. Unethical to suggest that people are punished their whole lives.
