RE: Development in Christian thought Flashcards
what was Augustine’s early life like?
- son of st. monica and a pagan official.
- ‘filled his life with pleasures’ - led a sinful life.
- teacher of philosophy.
- he converted to Christianity to teach about the dangers of sin.
- he joined the Platonists during his time as a teacher.
what was his interpretation of Genesis 3?
- Adam ate from the tree of knowledge due to concupiscence. This is called original sin and it resulted in them being banished from paradise.
- The original sin is passed on from generation to generation by the father.
- Before the fall, humans has ‘posse non preccare et mori’ - the ability to sin and die or not sin and not die. we also had control over our bodies and could resist temptation. Now, however, we’re selfish and can’t resist temptation.
- the ability to fall or not to fall is represented by the tree.
what did he teach about Adam and Eve’s relationship as friends?
- Eve is Adam’s companion, but a man would’ve been better as a helper so her purpose is procreation.
- They could’ve had sex before the fall but it would’ve been a rational act and not motivated by lust.
- There’s a God-given hierarchy and women are subordinate to men.
what were the problems with Augustine’s teachings?
Logical error: Schliermacher pointed out that evil can’t create itself out of perfection.
Scientific error: No fossil record of a perfect time, evolution shows development in cognitive ability so we didn’t get worse over time.
Moral error: it’s wrong to punish the people who weren’t even around when the sin was committed.
what is concupiscence?
it’s lust, any desire inseparable from human impulses. it shows that humans have no self control.
what does ‘pudenda’ mean?
parts of shame.
what are the consequences of original sin on humanity?
- inability to withstand temptation.
- we no longer have ‘posse non preccare et mori’
- we’re mortal.
- god’s grace is the only person who can save us from ourselves.
- if we’d stayed in a pre-fall state, we would’ve evolved into a higher being like god.
what did Pelagius teach about humanity?
- no connection between original sin and the state that people are born in.
- humans have free will.
- the grace of God is active in the world.
- humans can live morally good lives if we try hard enough.
what is the bad element of sex?
sex for reasons other than procreation.
how does scientific development disprove Augustine’s teachings?
- Dawkins believes that original sin doesn’t fit in with science.
- the theory of Jesus dying on the cross is irrational because sin still exists in the world so he sacrificed himself for no reason.
- Steven Pinker believes that the resurrection causes violence in society.
how does schliermacher’s logical error disprove Augustine’s teachings on original sin?
- God created a perfect world, but evil existed and evil can’t create itself out of perfection.
- God didn’t create a perfect world.
what is the moral error with Augustine’s teaching on original sin?
-being punished for a crime that someone else did is unethical.
what did Augustine teach about God’s grace?
sanctifying, actual
- grace is a share in divine life.
- sanctifying grace stays in the soul, it’s what makes it holy. it’s supernatural life.
- actual grace is a supernatural push or encouragement to seek out sanctifying grace.
how was Augustine optimistic?
- he tried to make us realise and accept ourselves, and move on.
- the city of God is our destiny and we will all end up there.
- his aim for humanity is positive
- we’re still free to make our own decisions.
how was augustine pessimistic?
- he saw humanity as being bad and sinful, based on Rome which was a corrupt city.
- the fall shows that our relationship with God is damaged and only God’s grace can repair it.
- god only selects a few to be saved, the rest will be punished by hellfire.
- we’re incapable of being perfect.
