Augustine On Human Nature Flashcards
(29 cards)
What is the meaning of Theology?
The study of God
When was Augustine alive?
4th / 5th century AD
What did Augustine criticise?
Rome
What were the two cities that Augustine proposed?
The city of men
The city of God
What is the city of men?
The flawed society we live in
What is the city of God?
The ideal world
How does Augustine view salvation?
It cannot be achieved by our own human actions, only through the Grace of God
The Fall
The moment when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit.
Human nature
The essential sense of what all humans are like; shared characteristics
Sin
Turning away from God
Concupiscence
The idea that our natural perfected state has been wounded so that we are not but but always inclining toward sin
Human will
Given to humans by God at creation and used to make choices.
Original sin
The state that humans were brought into by the fall, which was the first sin
Grace
God’s generous, undeserved and free act of love for the world through Jesus
Summum bonum
Highest or greatest good
Predestination
The idea that God chooses and guides some people to salvation
Augustine on genesis 2 and 3
Pre fall humans had a personal relationship with God
They had perfect harmony between the human body, will and reason
Post Lapsarian world
The world after the fall of Adam and Eve.
Concupiscence - humans have a tendency to sin
Romans 5:12
‘Sin came into the world through man’
What are the two main characteristics of original sin?
- Double death
- Transmission of sin
What is the first death in double death?
The death of the relationship with God
What is the second death of double death?
The mortal state in every human as God’s punishment- actual human death
How is the original act of disobedience transmitted?
Through a chain of disasters
How is the original sin transmitted?
Every sexual intercourse is tainted by concupiscence- original sin passes on seminally so that everyone (except Jesus) is born in sin.
