Human Nature

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Human Relationships Before the Fall

The Fall describes Adam and Eve's transition from friendship and innocence to lust & selfishness. The Fall is described in Genesis 3. Before the Fall, there was harmony in the world.

Harmony before the Fall

St. Augustine's interpretation of Genesis 3 (the Fall) was that there was harmony in the world before the Fall.
There was harmony between:
- God and humankind.
- Humans and each other.
- Humans and creation.
- The body and the will of humans.
This harmony was seen in the complete obedience of Adam and Eve and the fulfilment of their God-given duties in the world.
- For example, naming the animals (Genesis 2:19) and in tilling and keeping the garden (Genesis 2:15).

Caritas

St. Augustine taught that ‘we will what we love’.
Before the Fall, the kind of love found in the world was a selfless, outward, generous love.
It was known by the Latin word caritas (Greek = agape).
- We derive the word charity from caritas.
This caritas love was seen best in the relationship between Adam and Eve.
They were married, but Augustine characterises their relationship as that of friends.

Concordia

Augustine defined the relationship of Adam and Eve with the word Concordia.
This is a relationship that was comfortable, easy and understanding.
- By friends, Augustine did not mean Adam and Eve had a casual, simplistic relationship.
The harmony in this friendship extended to the harmony between the body and will.
Sexual activity was at the command of the will.
- In City of God, Augustine wrote that, ‘nakedness was not yet shameful, because . . . those members [did not move] without the will’s consent.’

Human Relationships After the Fall

The Fall describes Adam and Eve's transition from friendship and innocence to lust & selfishness. The Fall is described in Genesis 3. After the Fall, there is lust and selfish desires.

After the Fall

After the Fall there is a loss of harmony in the world.
Cupiditas replaces Caritas.
- Cupiditas is a selfish, inward love of temporary, earthly things.

Eve & the Fall

Cupiditas is first seen in the account of the Fall in the decision of Eve.
When the serpent first tempts her, she resists by reminding the serpent of what God had commanded her.
- The focus remained on God as a demonstration of caritas.
But, the serpent pushes her and her focus changes when she sees that the fruit is ‘a delight to the eyes’.
This is cupiditas taking over caritas.

Consequences of the Fall

The consequence of the Fall is the breaking of the harmony which God had created.
- Now, Adam and Eve hide from God instead of walking together in the garden (Genesis 3:8).
- Now, Adam and Eve try to pass the blame for their actions to others (Genesis 3:12-13).
- Now, there is enmity between humans and creation (Genesis 3:15, 3:17-18).
The friendship of Adam and Eve is damaged. It is now characterised by jealousy and pain.

Cupiditas

The dominance of cupiditas is shown by the emergence of concupiscence or lust.
This is not only sexual lust but a lust for the material and the earthly.
Concupiscence is no longer under the command of the will.
This is opposite to the situation before the Fall.
- St. Paul wrote ‘For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.’ (Romans 7:18-19)

St. Augustine

In City of God, St. Augustine argues that the shame felt over sex is evidence of how cupiditas has taken us over.
- He wrote that ‘lust requires for its consummation darkness and secrecy . . . even when he innocently copulates with his wife."