2. Traditional Judeo-Christian View of Human Nature
LOVE OF GOD
According to the Judeo-Christian tradition, humans are made in the image of God because they have will and intellect
The purpose of humans is to love and serve God.
(differs from the Greeks who believed it is reason that is the purpose of living)

3. Traditional Judeo-Christian View of Human Nature
For a Christian, the way to union with God is by emulating the life of Jesus
In the life of Jesus, we find an expression of the highest virtue: love
Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

4. Traditional Judeo-Christian View of Human Nature
Jews serve and love God primarily through expressions of justice and righteousness
They develop a sense of honour that we derive from a commitment to the ideals of truth, humility, fidelity, and kindness.
This commitment also produces a sharp sense of responsibility to family and community.

5. Traditional Judeo-Christian View of Human Nature
Choosing Good or Evil
These two religious views foster the idea of a moral self. Each of us is capable of great good, but also great evil.
Greeks felt you needed to develop one’s rational (intelligence) powers to perceive moral order, whereas Jews do not require high intelligence as a prerequisite for a moral sense.

6. Traditional Judeo-Christian View of Human Nature
Despite the differences between the two traditionalist views, Plato still influenced Christian thought through philosophers such as Saint Augustine (354 – 430)
Augustine adopted Plato’s view that the self or soul is rational, immaterial, and immortal and is not basically self-interested.

7. Traditional Judeo-Christian View of Human Nature
In addition to reason, Augustine argued the notion of the will as our ability to choose between good and evil.
Humans make the choice to love and serve God, and thus are using their will for good rather than evil.
Augustine believes humans are constantly attracted to evil, but with God’s help, we will resist these powerful desires.

8. Traditional Judeo-Christian View of Human Nature
This view agrees with rationalistic view that human nature is not basically self-interested. Instead, they are capable of rising above their self-interested desires and turning to God.
The purpose of humans is to achieve happiness by using their reason to know God.

9. Traditional Judeo-Christian View of Human Nature
Other similarities with Traditional Rationalist View:
The idea that:
there is a soul, an afterlife, immortal,…
we humans are special and different from other animals
reason makes us different
reason should rule over our passions
humans have a purpose that may be related to the spiritual dimension of the universe.

10. Traditional Judeo-Christian View of Human Nature
Watch Out!
The Judeo-Christian view may not be supported by modern science and may imply a cultural superiority that justifies destroying other cultures.

11. THE END
HOMEWORK
Read pages 60 – 74 and summarize: the Darwinian Challenge, the Existentialist Challenge, and the Feminist Challenge.