Exam 8: The Great Fathers and the Quest for Union With God

Which of the following distinguishes Athanasius's understanding of union with God from Origen's?

In his City of God, Augustine makes clear distinctions between the heavenly and earthly kingdoms. What connections can you make between this view and the modern separation of church and state? What do you think about his conclusions?

Augustine became the bishop of Carthage.

According to the author, what was the relationship between the most influential church theologians and the intellectuals of the Greco-Roman culture?

Origin believed that human beings were eternal souls who ended up with bodies.

Church fathers were impressed with Platonic philosophy.

Athanasius seemed to think that profound and even direct encounters with God could be obtained through the mediation of the biblical word and the sacraments. Others, such as Gregory of Nyssa, insisted that one had to bypass any physical mediations to encounter God most profoundly. Which position do you think makes the most sense and why?

Augustine was ordained against his will.

Donatism never truly collapsed until North Africa was overtaken by Muslim invaders.