St. Augustine, Calvin, Original Sin & Orthodox Theology (Open Forum Q n A) - Jay Dyer
In his comprehensive exploration of St. Augustine's views on original sin, Jay Dyer contrasts these teachings with those of Eastern Orthodox theology and Calvinism. He highlights the theological intricacies surrounding concepts of inherited guilt and emphasizes the necessity of recognizing individual church fathers within a broader patristic consensus. Dyer critiques Augustine’s understanding of free will and baptism, arguing for a more nuanced approach that aligns with Orthodox beliefs, particularly regarding the implications of sin and grace. Through a careful examination of these perspectives, he underscores the need for scholarly engagement with theological writings to avoid misinterpretations and to clarify distinctions across different Christian traditions. Ultimately, Dyer advocates for a collective theological understanding that reflects the unity and diversity found within the early church and contemporary faith discussions.
Chain 6 steps
- Jay Dyer: Orthodoxy does not align with individual thinkers like Augustine as a complete system.“it's important to... understand the overall approach between Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Calvinism”
via Orthodox theology- Jay Dyer: Augustine's view on original sin and transmitted guilt is not accepted in Eastern Orthodoxy.“But that does not mean that we ever adopted a strict Augustinian position that they necessarily were given over to torments.”
- Jay Dyer: Calvinism's inherited guilt leads to viewing human nature as evil.“you have this tendency to view the taint of original sin as if it was something substantial.”
via Westminster Confession- Jay Dyer: The Westminster Confession supports Calvinist beliefs about the nature of will.“you heard me read from the Westminster Confession.”
via John Calvin- Jay Dyer: Maximus' view is fundamentally distinct from Augustine's on the nature of free will and sin.“Maximus' view is not the same as Augustine's view.”
via Maximus the Confessor- Jay Dyer: David Bentley Hart misunderstands the concept of recapitulation in relation to salvation.“the mistake that David Bentley Hart is making is that... the restoration of nature does not mean that everybody's experience of the eschaton will be identical.”
Subjects
27Jay Dyer critiques Augustine's view on original sin and transmitted guilt, emphasizing that Augustine believed in the necessity of inherited guilt and that many in the West exalt Augustine beyond his intentions.
Jay Dyer critiques Calvinism for claiming limited atonement and emphasizes that Calvin's view creates a strict distinction between the visible and invisible church.
Jay Dyer discusses Maximus' criticisms of both Origenist positions and Augustinian doctrines, emphasizing his understanding of free will and its implications for eschatology.
Calvin disagrees with Augustine on the nature of human will, asserting that it is dead and bent on evil. He believes that regeneration does not occur through baptism but is an inner transformation that has already taken place before the sacrament is administered.
Jay Dyer argues against Origen's views on the eschaton and free will, describing them as a bizarre view resulting from Neoplatonism.
Jay discusses the concept of original sin, contrasting Augustine's and Calvin's interpretations and their implications for grace and human effort.
The Westminster Confession reflects Calvinist doctrines including total depravity and justification by faith alone, demonstrating the belief that human will is inactive in the movement towards salvation.
Jay Dyer insists that the doctrine of justification by faith alone was not taught before Luther and argues against its validity as a foundational aspect of the gospel.
Jay Dyer argues that Romanides' views on the unknowability of God's energies and analogical predication diverge from Orthodox theology.
Luther believes in baptismal regeneration like Augustine but asserts that our will towards God is dead, considering people as either ridden by God or the devil, further arguing for divine control over human actions.
Jay Dyer contrasts Orthodox theology with Augustinian and Calvinist viewpoints, emphasizing its collective and conciliar nature.
Jay notes that the Roman Catholic Church does not accept Augustine's positions on inherited guilt.