Lecture 8: True Religion and Morality Dr. Ann T. Orlando

Outline Evil On True Religion (De vera religione) Love; not an emotion Homilies on the First Epistle of John

Evil Evil is the obstacle to the prevents the happy life But what is evil ‘Theodicy problem’: how can there be a evil and suffering and at the same time a good, loving, creator God Possible solutions: There is no god (Epicurus) Creator god not good (so Gnostics, Manichees) Evil is not a substance, but rather an absence from the creation of the good God (so Plotinus)

Plotinus (207-270 AD) Alexandrian philosopher, considered himself a Platonist Contemporary of Origen and Mani Subsequently referred to as a ‘Platonist’; Term Neoplatonism an invention of 19th C Developed a metaphysics of the One Good spiritual creator God Simple, self-caused and cause of all else Problem: Then how can there be evil Solution evil is the absence of a good that should be there Evil does not have an independent existence Ethics based on soul’s return to the One Spiritual progression in steps to the One Sin is turning away from approaching the One

Biblical Approach to Evil Natural Evil Suffering and difficulties are teachers God’s response to Job: there is no answer that man can understand Moral Evil Result of man’s freedom to choose Proclivity to evil and original sin

Augustine In the Confessions Evil the key question for Augustine; it is what prevents him from being happy Starts his turn away from Catholicism over this question (Confessions Book III) Return begins with the solution found in the books of the Platonists (Confessions Book VII) Recall “On Free Choice of the Will” begins with the question of evil.

Review from our previous study Review from previous study Happiness only found in highest good, the Trinity Truth in likewise only found in the Trinity We need proper authority to help us search for the Truth Without Truth, language has no meaning Now lets think about morality Without Truth, we cannot know what the moral life is Even seemingly ‘good’ works (virtues) are not so if not directed toward proper end

What does this imply about how we are to live Without Truth we cannot know what the moral life is How we live should be pointed to achieving our ultimate end, the Happy Life Even if we engage in some ‘good’ works (virtues) they are not really part of a moral life if not directed to the Happy Life

Triadic Structure of Our Life in Church (Is 7:9, LXX) Illuminated by grace at each step We begin with belief, based on authority of the Church; We move (are moved) to an understanding of what we believe; We move (are moved) by this understanding to act in love

Augustine and Human Distorted Desires Human proclivity to sin is a result of original sin Without grace, man always will fall into sin Charity (grace, gift of the Holy Spirit) is the only virtue

Triadic Structure of Our Sins Sin against belief is pride Reliance on ourselves as the beginning (and end) Sin against knowledge is curiosity Knowledge for its own sake Sin against love is cupidity Wanting the wrong things

On True Religion Addressed to Romanianus, Augustine’s wealthy sponsor from Thagaste Augustine’s education in Carthage Augustine encouraged him to become a Manichean hearer Cassiciacum was an estate owned by Romanianus De Vera Religione encourages Romanianus to leave the Manicheans and become a Catholic Christian Written just before Augustine’s ordination in 390 See Letter 15

Structure On True Religion Prolog (i.1-x.20) Discussion of Plato and Platonism Why Plato would be a Christian if alive Section A (xi.21-xxiv.45) Discussion of problem of evil Section B (xxv.46-liv.106) Ascent to God Begins with authority and who to believe Stages of spiritual growth Rational mind searching for the truth which is above it Conclusion (lv.107-113)

Read the Retractions I.xiii Phantasms = vain thoughts (#2) Sin is voluntary evil (#5) Miracles do occur now, by the grace of Christ acting through others (e.g. martyrs) (#7)

Augustine and Love Amor, dilectio, caritas In Augustine, amor and dilectio can be directed to the cause of good or bad intents leading to good or bad actions Dilectio seems to be used associated with the love of things that we enjoy Caritas seems to be used almost exclusively for the love (charity) within the Trinity, and our approach to that love; as in Deus caritas est Caritas seems to have the same relation to amor that sapientia has to scientia

Homilies on the First Epistle of John Delivered during the octave of Easter Follows the liturgical readings of the day But the occasion may have been more like ‘adult education’ rather than delivered during the liturgy Presumes a rather high level of knowledge and understanding Augustine himself titles these homilies ‘tractatus’ or tractates Augustine's homilies are the first extensive commentary on I John

Belief Understand Love Both De Trinitate and On True Religion get us to the verge of love The tractates on 1 John focus on love (caritas) and how love should direct our actions Key points If we know, we should love, for knowledge apart from charity does not save. Homily 2.8 Note extended discussion o 1John 2:15-16 in Homily 2.9-14 similar to On True Religion xxxviii.69-71 The handing over of the Son: That the Father and Son did this in charity, but that Judas did it in betrayal. You see that it is not what a person does that must be taken into consideration but with what mind and will he does it. Homily 7.7 Once for all then a brief precept is given to you: Love and do what you want. Homily 7.8 Love is a sweet word, but a sweeter deed. Homily 8.1

Evil in Medieval Thought Basically Augustine Example: Aquinas in ST Ia 48-49 addresses evil in general Evil has no existence in reality Evil cannot exist without the presence of some good Note: Church still follows Augustine in this, see definition of evil in CCC glossary

Petrarch and Reception of On True Religion Well known for his reading of Confessions In his Secrets, he has Augustine as an imaginary interlocutor In which Augustine frequently cites On True Religion Petrarch noted in his copy of On True Religion how valuable it was to him Petrarch asked to be buried in Pavia, in the same church as Augustine

Assignment On True Religion Revisions Letter 15 Homilies on the First Epistle of John Prolog, Homily 2, 7, 8.

Some Works Consulted Smith, J. Warren. “Loving the Many in the One: Augustine and the Love of Finite Goods,” Religions 2016 7(11) Levering, Matthew. Theology of Augustine. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2013. Ch. 3