intro Flashcards
who was Augustine
what did he teach
Augustine was a key influence in Christian thought and taught about original sin, which is a state that everyone is born with, with the inclination to sin and to turn away from God.
what is Augustine’s teaching on original sin based on
the fall
this is in Genesis when Adam and Eve sinned against God by eating the fruit he told them not to eat. By doing this they turned against God and brought sin on humanity. Since original sin is a state that we are in and not what we do, it means that we are not able to be ‘cured’ from original sin by our own merits.
quote that proves we have original sin from conception
Psalm 51 ‘surely I was sinful before I was born, sinful from when my mother conceived me’. This is important because it shows that original sin isn’t something that we gain during our lifetime, but something we have.
in Christianity how do they believe we can be saved
th cure to original sin
by the grace of God when he sent Jesus. This would make
sense if the biblical references of Jesus are correct, as otherwise there is no reason why Jesus came. He was sent to close the gap between God and his people, caused by Adam and Eve, and passed on through intercourse to the rest of humanity.
is the cure for original sin convincing
yes because it is known that Jesus was a real person and in the bible he comes to forgive our sins, closing the gap between God and his people.
weakness 1
don’t take the story literal
the whole of augustines thought is based on the genesis story of the fall,but many ppl believe this is not literal, historic account. if the genesis stories are instead understood to be a mythical, pictorial way of expressing truths about humanity, then it might make less sense to talk about ‘before the fall’ and ‘after the fall’, even if the ideas connected with the human inclination to disobey god still have value.
counter argument to the weakness of taking the genesis literally
However, though it may not be taken literally, from it we can understand human nature and our inclination to be sinful. This is convincing as it is something that you can observe in everyday life. People can be selfish and ruthless and unloving.
One problem with Augustine’s teaching on original sin is
not literal
that it is talking about the story of Genesis and takes it literally. Since there is no scientific evidence that the story of the fall in Genesis is historical, it means that we may not be able to take the story literally.
why is his teaching seen as convincing
because not only has it been extremely influential, especially for philosophy of human nature, but because it is entirely realistic in the recognition of human imperfection. Augustine used his own experiences to highlight weaknesses in human nature; it is arguable that in doing so, and in identifying that humans are fundamentally flawed, Augustine showed how humans can make moral progress and develop a harmonious society.
hobbes agrees with the argument that ppl are selfish so shows that we have flaws
he argued that humans are by nature selfish and only work together when it is in their own interests, which is synonymous with Augustine’s argument that humans are driven by Cupiditas and selfish desires.
weakness not convincing because it focus too much on religion
can be seen to focus too stringently on religion. Augustine’s entire teaching is based on a creationist belief in Genesis and the biblical accounts, and provides no alternative for those who see the Genesis story as literally nor historically accurate, atheists, or those who believe in evolution and natural selection. For those who do accept the Genesis story, it forces them to recognise themselves as innate sinners.
Locke argument to augustines theory of everyone being born with sin
He argued for tabula rasa, asserting that babies are born with a ‘blank slate’ and are able to make free, uninfluenced decisions. This view is also more easily reconciled with the modern Christian theological view of a good, loving God attributing to a benevolent universe, than Augustine’s focus on sin and condemnation.
weakness two
sexual desire is healthy
Augustine’s focus on concupiscence and sin arguably renders his teaching not only unconvincing but also repressive. Many would argue that sexual desire is a healthy aspect of our human nature, and should not be suppressed. It displays sexuality as impure and shameful.
weakness 2 part 1
other religions support sexual relationships
he puts Christianity at odds with other religion
his argument puts Christianity at odds with other religious belief systems which celebrate sexual relationships, for example Judaism and Hinduism which celebrate sexual relationships in the context of marriage. One may argue that sexuality is a fundamental aspect of human nature; it is not a distraction from God but a necessary facet of humanity and pertaining to sexual desire does not make one innately sinful.
weakness
what does Rousseau argue
he reasoned that people are generally good, that they want to defend the weak and are egalitarian, they are not intrinsically sinful as viewed by Augustine.
