What is predestination
THe idea that god already knows and has decided what will happen
Who was Augustine
Lived in north africa, 5th century-argued with pelagius
What does Aquinas believe about original sin
Originally, humans had perfect free will
However Adams fall led to sin contaminating humanity (seminally present) removing perfect will and making us inclined to sin
What is Liberum Arbitrarium and when did humanity posess it
Free will to choose-Adam before his fall
How does original sin distort our free will and what analogy does aquinas use
Makes us more likely to turn to sin
Like a weighing scale but one side has been packed-
requires more effort to balance the scales-do good
What is concupiscence
The intense desire that led adam away from God
It is the desire of earthly pleasures that makes us all slaves to sin
Passed on inseminally to all humans
What is massa peccati
Literally lump of sin
We are like clay(prometheus) but contaminated by sin
Emphasises how dominated by sin we are, and how it affects all of our feelings and desires
How did Augustine view Jesus’ death
Jesus was a second adam
God could rightfully condemn all of humanity to hell, but chooses to save some by the atonement
Humans cannot save themselves, and require Gods grace-through Jesus reconciling humans and god, this becomes possible
What is Augustine’s analogy of the vineyard workers to explain salvation
A man hires workers for 1 denarius for a day
Gets more workers later on in the day but pays them the same wage
The earlier workers complain
However, the owner says he is not being unfair as he made a a contract and is fulfilling it; they agreed to work for a price
The payment was not a reward for hard work but fulfilling a promise
In the same way, salvation is not a reward for good behaviour, but a gift from god-a fulfillment of his promise of salvation
What does Augustine say by justice god is required to do for salvation
Nothing-Humans have sinned and deserve punishment
Does Augustine believe in predestination or free will
He argues we should believe in both
God, as the causer of all things has predestined all, but this does not negate human free will
God causes things in a way which respect their nature; he preserves humans freedom to choose cooperation with grace or not
Does Augustine believe in single or double predestination, and what are thery
Single predestination-God saves some souls
Double predestination-God saves some souls and condemns others
It is disputed which augustine believed
Some of his writings suggest that God condemns some to hell,
but mcgrath and hick argue that he favoured single predestination
What is the only way humans can be saved, according to Augustine
By giving into gods grace, which is irresistable, so god chooses who goes to heaven
What is the only thing humans are free to do, in augustines theology
To sin, as to do any good requires gods grace
Who was John Calvin
16th cent French Protestant reformer-inspired by augustine
Was the doctrine of election central to Calvin’s theology
No-It was more of an inevitable conclusion of some of his other teachings
Who called the synod of dort
The Dutch Reformed Church
What is the doctrine of election
Calvin’s idea that some people (the elect) are predetermined to achieve eternal life and others (the reprobates) for damnation
God chooses the elect based on his own will, not on human behaviour-Calvin admits this is a frightening idea
What did martin luther say God chose the elect from
Their own free decision of faith
What is Calvin’s belief in predestination based on
Scripture, which he saw as fundamental authority
He says teachings in pauls letters to the romans and the ephesians as clear and incontrovertible evidence of predestination
Why does Calvin allow for God to choose for humans, without them having any choice in the matter
It is based on God’s nature as the sole and absolute power in the world-his creation is not abandoned to nature or to chance
Nothing happens unless it is the will of god
Humans are corrupted and wretched-nothing should happen on account of their worthless decisions
Does Calvin say all action is pointless if it is already predetermined
Yes and no
Action will never change if you are elect or reprobate, but it is a sign you are elect-they will choose good acts
therefore you should live a life pleasing to god
Does calvin believe in single or double predestination
Double-quite clearly]
God from the outset declares that some shall be saved and some damned
According to calvin, was the fall predestined
Yes-the elects and reprobates have been determined forever
