Fallen Human Nature

[Resurrexi]

Is fallen human nature inherently good?

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
11/23 - St. Clement I

StThomasMore,

Yes, because human nature is a created reality, it has a good which it cannot destroy - heck, even having the category "being" is a basic good of human nature. It is also made in the image and likeness of God, which makes it good as well, and nothing we can do can completely destroy that likeness. Thus, by its "nature," (no pun intended), human nature is good.

To believe that fallen human nature is totally corrupt would be Calvinist and smells of Lutheranism. Dr. Alvin Plantiga, a Calvinist philosopher at Notre Dame, is perhaps the most vocal person in our time about the complete depravity of human nature (C.S. Lewis held a similar, though less virulent, view). Hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono

[cappie]

Man’s essence was not affected by the fall of Adam, for if it was, then we would have to admit a change in Adam’s essence, which entails an ontological disconnect between the humanity of Christ and us.