Is Augustines teaching on historical fall and original sin wrong Flashcards
(11 cards)
Introduction
- Define human nature
- What is the theological/philosophical question
- Introduce Augustines teaching
- State what the essay will examine
• Define human nature as the innate dispositions humans are born with, independent of culture or socialisation.
• Raise the philosophical/theological question: Does human nature exist, and if so, is it corrupted or good?
• Introduce Augustine’s teaching:
• Augustine claims human nature is corrupted by Original Sin.
• Augustine’s theory originates from his reflection on the origin of sin and the Genesis account of the Fall.
• State that the essay will examine the credibility of Augustine’s doctrine both theologically and scientifically, including opposing views like Pelagius’ and modern evidence.
Paragraph 1
Explanation and Defence of Augustine’s Teaching on the Fall and Original Sin
Paragraph 1: Explanation and Defence of Augustine’s Teaching on the Fall and Original Sin
Explanation of Augustine’s teaching
• The Garden of Eden was originally perfect; Adam and Eve lived harmoniously and exercised perfect rational control, including over sexual desire.
• The Fall: Adam and Eve disobeyed God, causing their expulsion and bringing suffering into the world (e.g., pain in childbirth, toil).
Human nature corrupted by original sin:
• Humans inherit a corrupted nature—an “irresistible” tendency to sin—from Adam.
• “Seminal presence” theory: all humans were “in the loins of Adam,” so all share his fallen nature.
• Concept of Cupiditas (selfish, earthly love) vs Caritas (selfless, divine love).
• Concupiscence (bodily desire overpowering reason) is a key symptom of original sin.
• Salvation only possible by God’s grace, through predestination and limited election.
• Humans cannot save themselves due to original sin.
• Grace is a divine gift that enables faith and good works.
Paragraph 1: Explanation and Defence of Augustine’s Teaching on the Fall and Original Sin
Defence and supporting points
• Augustine’s observations of human nature (e.g., his “pear theft” anecdote) suggest innate moral corruption.
• Christian theologians like G.K. Chesterton and Reinhold Niebuhr have supported Augustine’s view as empirically observable in human behavior.
• Augustine’s interpretation of biblical texts (Paul’s letters) supports original sin and grace.
• Augustine argues God’s justice and grace are beyond human understanding; his “secret but just judgment” defends divine fairness despite predestination.
Paragraph 1: Explanation and Defence of Augustine’s Teaching on the Fall and Original Sin
Evaluation: Strengths of Augustine’s teaching
• Offers a coherent explanation for the universality of sin and human moral failure.
• Integrates scriptural evidence, supporting a unified Christian doctrine.
• Accounts for the presence of evil without blaming God.
• The notion of grace emphasizes God’s mercy and human dependence on divine help.
• Explains human moral weakness realistically in light of observable behavior.
Paragraph 2
Criticisms and Challenges to Augustine’s Teaching
Paragraph 2: Criticisms and Challenges to Augustine’s Teaching
Scientific challenges
• Genetic evidence contradicts the idea of a single original couple (Adam and Eve) as the sole ancestors of humanity.
• Evolutionary biology and genetic diversity show human origins are much more complex.
• Augustine’s biological assumptions (e.g., homunculus theory, seminal presence) are scientifically false.
Paragraph 2: Criticisms and Challenges to Augustine’s Teaching
Theological and philosophical critiques
• Pelagius’ objection: Augustine’s doctrine undermines free will and moral responsibility.
• The doctrine of original sin and predestination make divine punishment unjust.
• It’s unfair to blame all humanity for Adam’s sin, especially when punishment seems undeserved (e.g., innocent suffering like childhood illness).
• Moral improvement throughout history (Martin Luther King, Steven Pinker) suggests human nature is not irredeemably corrupted.
• Original sin leads to fatalism and passivity in moral effort, contradicting biblical exhortations to moral action.
• Pelagius argues free will is real, and humans have genuine moral capacity.
• Augustine’s reliance on inscrutable divine justice may seem to avoid difficult questions about God’s omnibenevolence.
• The problem of evil and suffering challenge the notion that original sin justifies all human misfortune.
Paragraph 2: Criticisms and Challenges to Augustine’s Teaching
Evaluation: Weaknesses of Augustine’s teaching
• Scientifically indefensible biological claims weaken the literal historical Fall.
• Augustine’s understanding of free will and grace can seem to undermine human moral responsibility.
• The doctrine can lead to ethical problems regarding divine justice and punishment.
• Appeal to mystery and inscrutability may be unsatisfactory as a theological explanation in a modern context.
Conclusion
• Augustine’s teaching on the historical Fall and Original Sin provides a profound theological account of human sinfulness and dependence on God’s grace.
However, his doctrine faces significant scientific and philosophical challenges:
• The literal Fall story is incompatible with modern science.
• The idea of inherited sin and predestination raises serious questions about justice and free will.
• Nonetheless, Augustine’s insight that humans are morally flawed and in need of divine help resonates with many observations of human nature.
• Pelagius’ challenge reminds us of the importance of free will and moral responsibility.
Line of argument
While Augustine’s biological and historical claims about the Fall are largely wrong and untenable, his broader theological teaching about human moral weakness and need for grace remains a valuable interpretation—provided it is understood metaphorically rather than literally.
Therefore, Augustine’s teaching on the historical Fall and Original Sin is not entirely wrong, but its historical and biological assertions are, and the doctrine needs to be reinterpreted in light of scientific knowledge and ethical concerns about justice.
