The Trinity and Creation in Augustine

Scott A. Dunham

Description

The first English-language book on Augustine's Trinitarian doctrine of creation, The Trinity and Creation in Augustine explores Augustine's relevance for contemporary environmental issues. Modern, environmentally conscious thinkers often see Augustine's doctrines in a negative light, feeling they have been used to justify humankind's domination of nature. Considering Augustine's thought in his own time and in ours, Scott A. Dunham offers a more nuanced view. He begins with a consideration of the major themes that have characterized ecologically sensitive theologies and Augustine's place in those discussions. The primary examination considers how Augustine's doctrine of the Trinity informed his interpretation of the opening chapters of Genesis, especially his conceptions of divine creation, providence, and dominion. This analysis of Augustine's Trinitarian interpretation of Genesis stands in contrast to recent characterizations of classical conceptions of creation. The book concludes with a discussion of Augustine's relevance for modern theological thought by appraising Augustine's Trinitarian doctrine of creation in relation to ecological themes in theological ethics.

Acknowledgments

Introduction

The Ecological Problem of Dominion and the Doctrine of God
Ecologically Informed Theological Ethics: Interrelatedness in Ecology
The Problem of Hierarchy in Modern Theology

Part I

1. The Contemporary Critique of Augustine

The Forms of Eastern and Western Trinitarian Thought
Augustine’s Western Form of the Trinity: Modalism
The Trinity and the Doctrine of Creation: Cause and Effect
The Scriptural Basis of Augustine’s Trinitarian Doctrine

2. Augustine’s Doctrine of the Trinity
Subordinationism and the Divine Missions
Monarchy, Simplicity, and Relations of Origin: Augustine’s
Trinitarian Logic
Modalism

3. Augustine and Hierarchy in the Trinity
Hierarchy and the Trinitarian Relations
Hierarchy and the Divine Substance

Part II

4. The Trinitarian Founding of Creation

The Structure of The Literal Meaning of Genesis
Naming the Trinity in Genesis 1
How the Trinity Founds the Creation 68 How the Trinity Converts and Perfects Creatures

5. Trinitarian Governance and Creaturely

Participation in God
Participation in Augustine’s Theology
God’s Providential Governance and Creaturely Motion
Participation in the Trinity through Measure, Number and Weight
Formless Matter and the Question of Passivity

6. Resting in God, the Image of God, and Dominion

Resting in God
Use and Enjoyment
The Work of Human Dominion and the Image of God
Dominion and Power

Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie de la religion
• Religion
• Christianisme
• Christianity
• Philosophy of religion
• Ethics in religion

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 07 août 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791477946
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

The Trinity and Creation in Augustine

SUNY series on Religion and the Environment

Harold Coward, editor

The Trinity and Creation in Augustine

An Ecological Analysis

S COTT D A. UNHAM

S TATE  U NIVERSITYOF  N EW  Y ORK  P RESS

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2008 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu

Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Michael Campochiaro

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data

Dunham, Scott A., 1968–  The Trinity and creation in Augustine : an ecological analysis / Scott A. Dunham.  p. cm. — (SUNY series on religion and the environment ; 10020)  Includes bibliographical references and index.  ISBN 9780791475232 (hardcover : alk. paper)  1. Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo. 2. Trinity—History of doctrines. 3. Creation—History of doctrines. I. Title.

BR65.A9D86 2008 231.092—dc22

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2007038539

To Mount Hamilton Baptist Church

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Acknowledgments

Contents

Introduction  The Ecological Problem of Dominion and the  Doctrine of God  Ecologically Informed Theological Ethics: Interrelatedness  in Ecology  The Problem of Hierarchy in Modern Theology

Part I Chapter One—The Contemporary Critique of Augustine  The Forms of Eastern and Western Trinitarian Thought  Augustine’s Western Form of the Trinity: Modalism  The Trinity and the Doctrine of Creation: Cause and Effect  The Scriptural Basis of Augustine’s Trinitarian Doctrine

Chapter Two—Augustine’s Doctrine of the Trinity  Subordinationism and the Divine Missions  Monarchy, Simplicity, and Relations of Origin: Augustine’s  Trinitarian Logic  Modalism

Chapter Three—Augustine and Hierarchy in the Trinity  Hierarchy and the Trinitarian Relations  Hierarchy and the Divine Substance

Part II Chapter Four—The Trinitarian Founding of Creation  The Structure ofThe Literal Meaning of Genesis  Naming the Trinity in Genesis 1  How the Trinity Founds the Creation How the Trinity Converts and Perfects Creatures

i

x

1

5

6 8

11 13 14 18 21 25

31 31

3 4

7 1

45 46 49

57 59 61 66 68 72

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Contents

Chapter Five—Trinitarian Governance and Creaturely  Participation in God  Participation in Augustine’s Theology  God’s Providential Governance and Creaturely Motion  Participation in the Trinity through Measure, Number,  and Weight  Formless Matter and the Question of Passivity

Chapter Six—Resting in God, the Image of God, and Dominion  Resting in God  Use and Enjoyment  The Work of Human Dominion and the Image of God  Dominion and Power

Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography

Name Index

Subject Index

Scripture Index

81 83 87

92 99

105 106 110 112 117

125

135

181

191

193

197

Contents

Acknowledgments

i

x

This book began as my doctoral dissertation in Religious Studies at McMaster University. I am grateful for the dedication and patient as sistance of my supervisor, Peter Widdicombe, and the members of my dissertation committee, Travis Kroeker and Stephen Westerholm. I also would like to thank my examination committee, and especially Brian Daley, who made helpful suggestions about how the thesis might be revised. My thanks to the Philosophy Department at the University of New Brunswick, who granted me research resources to complete this project. I also acknowledge the assistance of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

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