HUM 2 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Theodicy
(16) 6C: Augustine invents Original Sin
Friday, May 11, 2018
10:57 AM
1. Manichaeism and theodicy
2. Augustine (re)converts
3. Solving the problem of evil as a Christian: The Fall and Original Sin
Born a Christian to an extremely devout Christian and then dies as the most influential thinker in
Christianity. He even invents Original sin.
1. Manichaeism and theodicy
• Interest in Manichaeism
o He finds Manichaeism to be a useful solution to the problem of evil
o Presents evil as a material thing
• There are two gods who create
• One god is good and one god is evil
• Both good and evil exist
2. Augustine (re)converts
• Never really got into Manichaeism because he had too many Christians
• Had been moving back into Christianity because Ambrose inspired him with intellectual take on
the religion
• Converts means he is moving to a higher level of commitment
o He leaves his career, his fiance, his life of material associations and decides to embark on a
career within the church.
• Runs into the garden during his conversion breakdown
• Hears child singing and that spurs him to take action to look at the bible he has and complete his
conversion experience
• Sex is holding him back "give me chastity and continence, but not yet"
• "tolle, lege" take it and read
• Finds an exerpt that tells him to not worry about his physical lust or desires, but to "arm
yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ; spend no more thought on nature and nature's appetites"
3. Solving the problem of evil as a christian: the Fall and Original Sin
• Evil does not exist as a real thing
• Evil is only a turn away from Good
• Evil is not a real thing or presence but a negative, a rejection, a lack of good
• The Fall
o The fall from the Garden of Eden
o Original Sin
• A child is born with a desire for sin
o Man is corrupted by their own free will
o Generate corrupt children
• Says that we are born with a propensity to sin
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