Augustine's Teaching on Human Nature OCR A-Level Religious Studies Revision

This resource explains Augustine’s teaching that human nature was originally good, created in the image of God, with rationality, free will, and moral awareness. However, the Fall of Adam and Eve caused humanity to become corrupted through Original Sin, which is passed on to all people and results in a natural tendency towards sin.

It shows that Augustine believed human beings remain made in God’s image but have a weakened and divided will. After the Fall, people are influenced by concupiscence, meaning uncontrolled desires, which leads them towards selfish love (cupiditas) rather than selfless love (caritas). This creates internal moral conflict, where humans often act against what they know is right.

The resource also highlights Augustine’s view that humans cannot achieve salvation through their own efforts because their nature is damaged. Instead, they are completely dependent on God’s grace, given through Christ, which can transform the will and restore the relationship between God and humanity, with strengths and criticisms of the argument, along with some questions for students to practice on.