DCT - Augustine on Human Nature

Question 1

Genesis Chapter Three

Answer 1

The Fall

Question 2

Augustine on human relationships before and after the fall

Question 3

Augustine on Original Sin

Question 4

Augustine on God’s grace

Question 5

Augustine on election and predestination

Question 6

Pelagius on human relationships

Question 7

Pelagius on Original Sin

Question 8

Pelagius on God’s grace

Question 9

Scientific Counter to Augustine

Answer 9

Augustine’s claim of little men being seminally present in Adam has been disproved

Evolutionary theory has also undermined the possibility of all of humanity descending from one couple

Question 10

Chesterton’s Defence of Augustine

Answer 10

Evidence for original sin can be found ‘in the street’ - it is the only provable theology - observations of society are negative (high crime rates, use of substances…)

Question 11

Biblical Support for Augustine

Answer 11

Romans 7:15-20 ‘the sin that dwells within’ drives us to act against our reason and God

Question 12

Biblical Support against Augustine

Question 13

Key Term - Concupiscence

Answer 13

Bodily/sexual desire overpowering reason

Question 14

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Chapman)

Answer 14

All men are implicated in Adam’s sin - original sin is just due to the unity of man - agree with Augustine’s teachings

Question 15

McGrath’s counter to the scientific argument

Answer 15

There is no need for conflict between religion and science - the concept of original sin is not disproved by developments in evolution but a part of it