3.1.1
Human Nature
Human Relationships Before the Fall
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
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
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
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
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
- 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
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
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
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
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."
1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
Jump to other topics
1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
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