Download Intro to the Judeo

Intro to the Judeo-Christians
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St. Augustine and
St. Thomas Aquinas
Judaism vs Hellenism
Christianity evolved from Judaism and
Hellenism.
Fused together by the teachings of Jesus.
Judaism vs Hellenism (cont’d.)
Hellenism.
Greeks were polytheistic.
Greeks believed that man created gods.
Greeks emphasized the idea of thinking
clearly.
Greeks believed that reason was the way
to perfection.
Greeks also believed that knowledge was
the basis of political rule.
Judaism vs Hellenism (cont’d.)
Judaism.
Jews were monotheistic.
Jews believed that God created man.
Jews emphasized the idea of acting justly.
The Jewish approach denied that human
reason and wisdom can ever unlock the
riddle of existence.
Jews believed that only God can rule over
man.
Historical Perspective: Greek vs
Early Christian Worlds
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Polis died.
– Overrun by Philip
of Macedonia and
ultimately
incorporated into
the Roman
Empire.
– Transformed by
events rather
than able to
transform events.
– A world of private
individuals
concerned with
personal affairs.
Historical Perspective: Greek vs
Early Christian Worlds
People tended to embrace one of two
philosophies.
 Epicureanism
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Materialist: Universe an assemblage of
atoms following no discernible pattern.
So humans are material objects as well.
– If the body died, the soul died with it.
Therefore, bodily pleasures were of the
utmost importance.
– Good = promotion of pleasure
– Bad = pain
No afterlife.
Historical Perspective: Greek vs
Early Christian Worlds
Epicureanism (cont’d.)
 Potential responses to epicureanism:
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– Hedonism = the pursuit of animal
pleasures.
– Cynicism = distrusting or disparaging the
motives of others. Nothing is really true—
nothing really matters.
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Consequences of epicureanism:
– Pleasure is always elusive.
– Glass is always half-empty.
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Solution to epicureanism:
– Live a life of moderation based on reason.
Historical Perspective: Greek vs
Early Christian Worlds
 Stoicism.
 The
dominant philosophy of the
Roman Empire to 450 AD.
 Materialist: world of atoms, ordered
by God, but following an unknowable
pattern.
Historical Perspective: Greek vs
Early Christian Worlds
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Solution to stoicism:
– A life of moderation thru reason.
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Consequence of stoicism:
– Predestination:
– Humans part of God’s plan, destined to do
what we do.
– Resistance to fate is useless.
– But one can learn to deal with the fates.
– No afterlife.
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Epicureanism and stoicism paved the way
for Christianity.
Introduction to St. Augustine
• St. Paul = St. Augustine’s inspiration.
• Paul seen as the founder of
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Christianity.
Paul believed that all power and
authority come from a single source--God.
To resist power and authority is to
resist God.
– No rebellion. Render to all their
due.
Rebellion/resistance = Pride (self-love)
– Pride = the father of all sins.
– Augustine’s focus.