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August 13, 2005

Ch. XV. Q. 92. External Effects

THE ENTRANCE of sin into the world has disturbed man's external relations, causing (a) alienation from God; (b) enslavement to Satan; (c) malice between man and man; (d) hindrance to man's sovereignty over the lower orders of creation.

2. Man's alienation from God has been described by the following phrases: (a) the "wrath of God," already explained in relation to "original sin" and inevitably incurred through actual sin by all who attain the years of discretion;1 (b) liability to punishment, reatus poenae, which includes poena damni, or exclusion from the enjoyment of God, and poena sensus or personal suffering.2 But divine wrath is never vindictive. It is the expression of His justice, and His justice permits and includes the love which has moved Him to redeem mankind and to afford a dispensation of mercy from which all may benefit, if they respond to His grace by faith and repentance.3

3. Sin has enslaved men to Satan in the following ways: (a) Men's natural inclinations have reduced their power to resist his seductions; (b) The gift of the Holy Spirit being withdrawn, the access of Satan and his angels to our souls is facilitated; (c) Demoniacal possession of human bodies has become possible, and painful disorders have resulted.4

4. The mainspring of sinful motives is selfishness, and this is opposed to brotherly love. Because of selfishness even acts of kindness are neither purely unselfish nor adapted to promote the highest and spiritual welfare of others. Malice is readily engendered, and this causes private injury, social disruption and international warfare. Only by supernatural grace can selfishness be overcome.5

5. All nature is interrelated, and, in ways too mysterious to define adequately, the lower orders of creation are affected by the disturbance of man's spiritual nature. The whole creation groans for redemption,6 and the destined dominion of man over nature waits for his long delayed attainment to sovereignty over himself.7 The history of civilization confirms this statement.8


1 In Q. 90.4. Cf. Gen. iii. 24; vi. 3; St. John iii. 36; Rom, i. 18; Ephes. ii. 3; Revel. xiv. 19-xv. 1.

2 St. Thomas, I. II. Ixxxvii.

3 On divine wrath, Jas. Orr, in Hastings, Dic. of Bible,/cite>, s. v. "Anger (Wrath) of God"; Jas. Denney, The Atonement and the Modern Mind, Lec. ii; Lux Mundi, pp. 285-288; R. Dale, Atonement, Lec. viii.

4 Cf. qq. 79.5-6 and 80.4. above. See Creation, pp. 165-168. On demoniacal possession, Hastings, Dic. of Bible, s. vv "Demon, Devil," "Exorcism, Exorcist"; R.C. Trench, Miracles of Our Lord § 5.

5 A.P. Forbes, Thirty-Nine Arts., pp. 205-208.

6 Rom. viii. 20-22.

7 Gen. iii. 17-19.

8 Cf. Q. 85.4, above.. See A. Moore, Essays Scientific and Philos., pp.61-65; T.B. Strong, Manual of Theol., pp. 246-253.

Posted by AKMA at August 13, 2005 10:09 AM

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