Human relationships pre- and post-Fall

Question 1

the fall

Answer 1

• Adam + eve relationship prior to the fall
• in garden of eden, god told Adam + Eve to ‘go forth + multiply’=imply they had a sexual relationship
• he says they weren’t controlled by sexual desire
• ## he says were ‘seminaly present’ in lions of adam- we became cursed=y born w og sin

Question 2

before

Answer 2

• he started w genesis 1-3, w/accounts of creation, garden of eden, adam n eve, natural world n god
• until falll, there was harmony, expressed in obedience of adam n eve to god n their duties
• he says it was also a harmony of body, will n reason

Question 3

after

Answer 3

• all seminally present in lions of adam
• we was in him= cursed w sin n why were born w og sin
• og sin, a corruption in human nature giving us an irresitable temptation to sin
• og sins features of cupiditas vs caritas- og sin imbalances these n makes us love ourselves much more than we love others

Question 4

2 types of love

cupiditas

Answer 4

• selfish love
  -Love of impermanent, changeable earthly things.
• Love of self and selfish needs.
• ppl who choose this are ignorant and often unhappy because they have subjected themselves to the laws of the world which are the human laws of social life.

Question 5

2 types of love

caritas

Answer 5

• love of others
• Latin equivalent of the word AGAPE.
  Generous love of others.
• Expression of what God wills through eternal law.
• Displayed through virtues (Prudence, fortitude, temperance and justice).
• Leads to spiritual happiness.
• Before the Fall they operate in harmony, but after the Fall, they work contrary to each other.

Question 6

Concupiscence

Answer 6

when our bodily desires overwhelm our reason

Question 7

key quote ]god to adam

Answer 7

‘go forth and multiply’

Question 8

The starting point of Augustine’s theology was Genesis Chapters 1-3…

Answer 8

• some view chapter 1 seperate to 2 n 3 n suspect they were wrote first
• augustine views them as whole
• Genesis 1 explained that God created the world as a harmonious paradise.
• Genesis 2-3 explains why the world is no longer such a place.

Question 9

good will in the garden

Answer 9

• didnt only create physical bodies but also good will/character
• in garden relfect as caritas and cupidtas
• both perfectly baalnced in garden
• In order for a person to love his neighbour he must also love himself, this in turn leads to the love of God.

Question 10

Harmonious sexuality and friendship

Answer 10

Augustine, who had personal experience of the difficulties of sexuality and friendship, proposed that the first couple enjoyed selfless friendship and pure sexual love.

For Augustine, lust was the vice which turned a person in on one’s self and away from the other.

Therefore their sexual relations, like their friendship, were without lust. He even speculates Adam could get an erection at will!

Question 11

sex n friendship

Answer 11

• wrote loads about friendship
• a n e was married as friends
• but sex=secondary to friendship
• so prefall=sec would occur w/out lust when required n a could control his body at will, being in harmoney w body
• after fall-friendship expressed love of god, altough its far more complicated n fraught
• he wrote ‘theres nothing truly enjoyable w/out a freind’
• his solution is that friendship is only truly possible for those who love christ

Question 12

Concordia

Answer 12

• Augustine defined the relationship of Adam n Eve w this
• This is a relationship that was comfortable, easy n understanding.
• By friends, Augustine didnt mean Adam n Eve had a casual, simplistic relationship.
• harmony in this friendship extended to harmony between body n will.
• Sexual activity was at the command of the will.
• In City of God, Augustine wrote that, ‘nakedness was not yet shameful, because . . . those members [did not move] without the will’s consent.’

Question 13

eve n the fall

Answer 13

• cupiditas is first seen in account of fall in decision of eve
• when serpent first tempts her, she resists by reminding serpent of what god had commanded her
• focus remained on god as demonstration of caritas
• but serpent pushes her n her focus changes when she sees fruit is ‘delight to the eyes’
• =cupiditas taking over caritas

Question 14

consequences of the fall

Answer 14

• The consequence of the Fall is the breaking of the harmony which God had created.
• Now, Adam and Eve hide from God instead of walking together in the garden (Genesis 3:8).
• Now, Adam and Eve try to pass the blame for their actions to others (Genesis 3:12-13).
• Now, there is enmity between humans and creation (Genesis 3:15, 3:17-18).
• The friendship of Adam and Eve is damaged. It is now characterised by jealousy and pain.