traditional judeo-christian view of human nature love of god according to the judeo-christian...

Traditional Judeo-Christian Traditional Judeo-Christian View of Human NatureView of Human Nature

LOVE OF GODLOVE OF GOD According to the Judeo-Christian According to the Judeo-Christian

tradition, humans are made in the tradition, humans are made in the image of God because they have will image of God because they have will and intellectand intellect

The purpose of humans is to The purpose of humans is to love and love and serveserve God. God.

(differs from the Greeks who believed it (differs from the Greeks who believed it is reason that is the purpose of living)is reason that is the purpose of living)


For a For a ChristianChristian, the way to union with , the way to union with God is by emulating the life of JesusGod is by emulating the life of Jesus

In the life of Jesus, we find an In the life of Jesus, we find an expression of the highest virtue: loveexpression of the highest virtue: love

Jesus said, “Love one another as I Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.”have loved you.”


JewsJews serve and love God primarily serve and love God primarily through expressions of justice and through expressions of justice and righteousnessrighteousness

They develop a sense of honour that we They develop a sense of honour that we derive from a commitment to the ideals derive from a commitment to the ideals of truth, humility, fidelity, and kindness.of truth, humility, fidelity, and kindness.

This commitment also produces a sharp This commitment also produces a sharp sense of responsibility to family and sense of responsibility to family and community.community.


Choosing Good or EvilChoosing Good or Evil These two religious views foster the idea These two religious views foster the idea

of a moral self. Each of us is capable of of a moral self. Each of us is capable of great good, but also great evil.great good, but also great evil.

Greeks felt you needed to develop one’s Greeks felt you needed to develop one’s rational (intelligence) powers to perceive rational (intelligence) powers to perceive moral order, whereas Jews do not require moral order, whereas Jews do not require high intelligence as a prerequisite for a high intelligence as a prerequisite for a moral sense.moral sense.


Despite the differences between the two Despite the differences between the two traditionalist views, Plato still influenced traditionalist views, Plato still influenced Christian thought through philosophers Christian thought through philosophers such as Saint Augustine (354 – 430)such as Saint Augustine (354 – 430)

Augustine adopted Plato’s view that the Augustine adopted Plato’s view that the self or soul is rational, immaterial, and self or soul is rational, immaterial, and immortal and is not basically self-immortal and is not basically self-interested. interested.


In addition to reason, Augustine argued In addition to reason, Augustine argued the notion of the will as our ability to the notion of the will as our ability to choose between good and evil.choose between good and evil.

Humans make the choice to love and Humans make the choice to love and serve God, and thus are using their will for serve God, and thus are using their will for good rather than evil.good rather than evil.

Augustine believes humans are constantly Augustine believes humans are constantly attracted to evil, but with God’s help, we attracted to evil, but with God’s help, we will resist these powerful desires.will resist these powerful desires.


This view agrees with rationalistic This view agrees with rationalistic view that human nature is not view that human nature is not basically self-interested. Instead, they basically self-interested. Instead, they are capable of rising above their self-are capable of rising above their self-interested desires and turning to God.interested desires and turning to God.

The purpose of humans is to achieve The purpose of humans is to achieve happiness by using their reason to happiness by using their reason to know God.know God.


Other similarities with Traditional Other similarities with Traditional Rationalist View: Rationalist View:

The idea that:The idea that: there is a soul, an afterlife, immortal,…there is a soul, an afterlife, immortal,… we humans are special and different from we humans are special and different from

other animalsother animals reason makes us differentreason makes us different reason should rule over our passionsreason should rule over our passions humans have a purpose that may be related to humans have a purpose that may be related to

the spiritual dimension of the universe.the spiritual dimension of the universe.


Watch Out!Watch Out! The Judeo-Christian view may not be The Judeo-Christian view may not be

supported by modern science and supported by modern science and may imply a cultural superiority that may imply a cultural superiority that justifies destroying other cultures.justifies destroying other cultures.

THE ENDTHE END

HOMEWORKHOMEWORK Read pages 60 – 74 and summarize: the Read pages 60 – 74 and summarize: the

Darwinian Challenge, the Existentialist Darwinian Challenge, the Existentialist Challenge, and the Feminist Challenge.Challenge, and the Feminist Challenge.

traditional judeo-christian view of human nature love of god according to the judeo-christian...

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