RE DCT Augustine & Human Nature

What is Concupience?

A strong, sexual desire (lust)

How has original sin taint human nature, according to Augustine?

Humans fell from their state of perfection and we have forfeited the control of their bodies. Humans are now controlled by temptations and sin against God's will.

How is Original sin passed on through the generations?

It is transmitted through sexual intercourse, via 'concupiscence' (lust).

Was human moral freedom like before the fall

1) We had the ability to sin or not sin.

2) Humans now have the inability not to sin.

3) This would have been the inability to sin.

How has the fall amplified selfishness?

1. Lust of the sense

2. Lust for power

3. Lust for knowledge

How has the influenced the behaviour of humanity?

1. Sexual desire is somewhich overwhelms us. It is beyond rational control.

2. We want to look to have infleunce not for others

3. We want to know to satify our curiosity.

How has the fall affected human society?

Human society without God is the earthy city & is corrupt and unstable. Due to the 3 types of lust that are result of Original Sin. Lust for power makes worldly societies unstable.

How does Augustine view God's Grace?

After the fall, we lost self-control and choose different varieties of evil. God's geace is the only cure. His generous love rescues us from ourselves and gives us undeserved admission pass to heaven.

What was his dispute with the Pelagians?

Pelagius was a Christian monk who not believe that Original Sin caused universal guilt which only God could remove. The Pelagians argued that humans have sufficient free will to overcome personal sin. Pelagius taught:

- Even if Adam had not sinned he would have died.

- Adam's sin harmed only himself not the human race.

- Children are born in the same state as Adam before his fall.

- The whole human race neither dies through Adam's sin or death nor rises again through the resurrection of Christ.

- Even before the coming of Christ there was men who lived without sinning.

In what two ways does Augustine describe Original Sin in the following ways:

Augustine describes Original Sin in the following ways:

- Double death. The first 'death' is caused by Adam's rebellious will which kills the relationship of friendship between humans and God; it is symbolised by Adam and Eve's embarrassment of their nakedness in front of God (Genesis 3:8-10). The second death is the mortal state of every human and is God's punishment for the first disobedience (Genesis 3:19)

- Transmission of sin. The original act of disobedience is transmitted by a 'chain of disasters'. Just as a bad tree bears rotten fruit, so Adam's children also bear his rebellious nature. Every act of sexual intercourse is tainted by concupiscence, so that every human is 'born in sin'. Therefore, with the exception of Mary, who conceived Jesus without lust, all other humans are tainted with the Original Sin of Adam.

What does Richard Dawkins find about Original Sin?

Dawkins finds the whole Christian notion of Fall and Original Sin not entirely contrary to evolutionary biology, but also absurd and dangerous. He blames a very great deal of human suffering and conflict on the 'Original Sin' tradition which Augustine created. Dawkins argues that:

- It is absurd to imagine the corruption of all humans rests on two individuals. As evolutionary biology considers that humans emerged from less sophisticated animal forms who did not have the kind of consciousness which enabled them to make an active decision to rebel, then an literal belief in Adam and Eve makes no sense.

- Even a symbolic account of the Fall does not rid Christianity of it unhealthy obsession with sin, guilt, violence and repressed sexuality.

- The idea that God should wish to restore human nature by killing Jesus on the cross is sadomasochistic and irrational.

What does Steven Pinker argue?

- She consider pro-social and co-operative actions = Good & Selfish, destructive actions = Bad

- He contends that religion is general and Christianity is particular has been responsible for much violence, suffering and debasement of humanity.

- He argues that in modern societies the irrational superstition of religion should be replaced with Humanitarian principles.

- Organisations like the British Humanist association can to promote the humanitarian principle that is possible to seek and live a good life without religious belief.

- They campaign against the involvement of religious organisations in Schools and governments.

- They provide a network of accredited celebrants, who provided non-religious alternatives to weddings, civil partnerships, baby namings and funerals.

What does Christopher Hitchens argue?

- He contends that central lessons derived from stories like the 'Garden of Eden' lack creditability because they are 'all too human'.

- He thinks that the story is made-up for men to control women and society. If argue against, it is thought as going against God.

- They also present explanations for people on the nature of the world in a pre-scientific era.

- In contemporary terms, he thinks religious concepts degrade and undermine humanity as outdated values compete with modern commitments to equality, diversity and nationality.

What does Freund argue?

- 'The Behaviour of a human being in sexual matters is often a prototype for the whole of his other readers of reaction in life' - Sigmund Freund 'Sexuality and the Psychology of Love'.

- Freund agrees with Augustine that the sexual drive was an essential quality of human behaviour and shaped us deeply.

- Freund disagreed that it is needed was guilt and atonement for these urges. In fact, unfulfilled desires could lead to mental illness and neurosis in later life. Rather psychotherapy could be used to help channel sexual impulses in a healthy direction.

What did Reinhold Niebuhr argue?

- He responded to the secular/humanist challenge. He argued while it is unfashionable about sin, failure to understand sin leads to colossal mistakes by society and especially those in power.

- He argues humanists are too optimistic about human nature.

- Niebuhr accused both religious and non-religious leaders of ignorance if they reason and belief in moral goodness to bring about fair and just Societies.

- He argued humans must come to understand our imperfect and sinful nature and establish our relationship with God. Then we can realise our true limits and possibilities.