Religious Ideas - Schleiermacher And Augustine Flashcards
Augustine
Trad. Christians views of con:
The conscience is part of gods creation of humans
Innate - put into our minds by god
Literally seen as voice of God
Sets us apart from animals
Inspired by st.Paul
‘for when will they understand there’s no soul, however wicked … in whose conscience God does not speak?’ - no matter how much you sin, God will always try guide you
Schleiermacher
Protestant
Wanted to reinstate the sig of the academic study of religion following enlightenment period
It’s a sin to go against ones con because God acts through the conscience,guiding a Christian over how they should behave
Con should take priority over all forms of morality as God is activiley working through it - guides ppl within and takes priority over it
‘…as the voice of God within… an original revelation of God’- god makes himself known through conscience and mind
‘Conscience is very markedly traced to divine causality and as the voice of God within’ - in the beginning we knew right and wrong through God - like our architect
Evaluation
WEAKNESSES: seeing con as voice of god
Problem of evil: amount of evil in world, suggest God is selective or lots of ppl ignore gods choice
Concept of con is incompatible with DCT - why should humans have choice over own decisions making capabilities if god already commands right and wrong
No way of knowing you’re hearing voice of god
Conflicting messages to ppl who all believe in god
No exp for atheism
Not verifiable
Yorkshire ripper e.g. - why would god command murder?
Not morally free - god makes all decisions for us - shouldn’t be rewarded or punished for actions
STRENGTHS:
Straightforward and easy to understand
Form of gods revelation
