...2012 Table of Contents Cover Page 1 Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 The Life of Augustine 3 Madaurus 366-370 3 Thagaste 370-371 4 Carthage 371-383 4 Italy 383-387 4 Thagaste 387-390 5 Hippo 390-430 5 Augustine as a Writer 5 Augustine as a Scholar 6 Augustine as a Pagan 7 Augustine and Marriage 8 Augustine’s Journey to Christiainity 9 Augustine as a Christian 10 Augustine as Saint 11 Conclusion 12 Bibliography 14 Introduction Spiritual leaders exemplify themselves by the way they live and the way they impact the lives of others. This normally determines how their congregation and those who hear their word and see their deeds view them. Augustine’s life has not been totally perfect. He like other humans has erred in some way. However, he has had a positive impact on a number of theologians and philosophers (Smith 2008, 1). This paper looks at his life over his 76 years on earth and seeks to provide evidence that Augustine’s life can be used as an example in the preparation of spiritual leaders. The Life of Augustine Augustine’s life dates from 354 to 430. His father (Patricius) was a pagan of Roman decent and a member of the council while his mother (Monica) on the other hand was a Christian. This indicates that he had to deal with contrasting situations very early in his life and is possibly an indication of the reason for his engagement with several religions. He grew up in humble circumstances in Thagaste, which is...
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...In the first section of De Libero Arbitrio, Augustine brings up questions on killing in self-defense and how one can conclude that the death of an attacker is the appropriate decision. He presents it in dialogue similar to the Platonic writing style, speaking to his contemporary Evodius about different situations of desire. After conversing for a while, the two arrive at the situation of a slave murdering his master to avoid being beaten. Augustine insinuates that the situation is not necessarily driven by a malevolent desire, because a desire to be free from fear is innocent in nature; if the motivation were to come from a sin such as lust or greed, then it would be considered evil. However, the fear of a slave getting beat by his or her master is sinful because of the desire attached to the physical world, where a truly good person would only love his faith. Therefore, the slave must be punished for killing his slave master out of fear of beaten. Conversely, in the situation of one having to kill in self-defense is just compared to the one regarding the slave and his master; killing in self-defense means that the attacker is willing to commit a sinful act, such as murder or rape. Augustine justifies this by explaining to Evodius that a law created by people that allows for killing in self-defense is ethical because it allows for a lesser evil to be committed...
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...Saint Augustine once said, “For we have our existence from God, and it is from him that we deserve punishment for doing wrong and reward for doing good.” This quote draws up two philosophical propositions, which was taken from Book two of Augustine, “On Free Choice of the Will”. St. Augustine was a Christian theologian and philosopher and was the bishop of Hippo Regius, which was in Numidia; providence in Africa ruled by the Romans. He is seen as arguably the most important Western Christianity Church Father due to his influential texts in the Patristic Era. One could agree with St. Augustine’s philosophical proposition and one could disagree with his philosophical proposition. One could agree with St. Augustine’s philosophy “For we have out existence from God, and it is from him that we deserve punishment for doing wrong and reward for doing good” by analyzing biblical texts and having strong Christian beliefs. This claim can be interpreted that in the end of one’s life God will judge them at the gates of Heaven. Those who have lived a life full of good deeds will be rewarded; while those who have lived a life full of sin and wrongdoing will be reprimanded. When St. Augustine refers to those who will be punished for living a bad life one could interpret it that he asserts that person will receive his punishment in hell. Hell is a place of torment and punishment in an afterlife for people who have committed serious sins for which God will not allow them through the golden gates...
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...Christianity in Late Antiquity The period of Late Antiquity was roughly between 300 and 600 A.D. It was a period of change for the European world, change in politics, religion, economics, and much more. New ideas and ways were emerging while many of the old were starting to disappear. One of the most important and drastic changes during this time was the change in Christianity. Christianity was present before this period, but during Late Antiquity was when the Christian Church went from a persecuted religion to a desired and dominate faith. In this paper I will argue through the writings of Saint Augustine’s Confessions good Christians in Late Antiquity must be obedient and have a good sense of acceptance. Christianity really started to spread and expand in the third century. When the Roman Empire was declining in the third century Christianity was able to come in and take a place that was felt to be empty by the people. The economy was deteriorating with the decline in agriculture and food, leaving Christian Church to provide care for the poor, making Christianity appealing to the normal person. During the time of catastrophe such as the plague the Church was there to take care of the people; they managed burials for the dead, and during famine they organized food-supplies for the poor. The Church was the only form of a unified organization during times of upheaval making it alluring to people who felt they had been abandoned by the Roman Empire; the Church also gave...
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...Religion remains the one of the deepest and holiest concerns of mankind. The birth of Christianity is momentous among all the religions, where the history of mankind before his birth is considered as the preparation for his coming and the history after his death as the diffusion of his spirit and the progress of mankind. Christian history begins with Jesus of Nazareth, a Jew who was born in a small corner of the Roman Empire. Not much is known about his early life but when he was around 30 years old he was baptized by John the Baptist and had visions of being blessed by the Almighty. A group of 12 disciples followed him and spread his teachings of condemning religious hypocrisies and interpreted the Mosaic law in different innovative ways. They believed in the ‘Kingdom of God’, finding their Messiah in Jesus. Within a few years, oppositions built up against Jesus and he was executed by crucifixion in the hands of Romans. Most of Jesus' followers scattered everywhere, dismayed at such an unexpected outcome. Three days later, women who went to anoint his body reported that the tomb was empty and an angel told them Jesus rose from the dead. The disciples, who were initially skeptical, later came to believe the women. They reported that Jesus appeared to them on several occasions and then ascended into heaven before their eyes. Soon the number of followers, in the name of ‘Christians’, grew rapidly. The most instrumental man behind the creation of the church was Paul, a Jew by birth...
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...Le Saint Augustine de Hippo, ne en l’an 354 jusqu’à l’an 430, était un important auteur durant les années de l’air latine de l’Ouest. Il est jusqu’à aujourd’hui considéré comme l’uns des écrivains les plus importants dans l’histoire du christianisme. Parmies toutes ses oeuvres, les trois plus classiques furent ‘’ the Confession, ‘’On the Trinity’’, ainsi que ‘’The City Of God’’. Augustine est décrit comme étant ne d’une mère chrétienne nomme, Saint Monica. Par contre, il ne reconnaitra cette religion qu’en l’an 386, après être passé par plusieurs différentes idéologies. Tout d’abord, il n’est pas intéressé par la religion chrétienne car il ne veut pas mener sa vie sous divers règles. Durant ses années adolescentes, il fut intéressé par les écrits de Cicero qui lui a amené de l’intérêt face a la philosophie. En lisant les oeuvres de Cicero, cela lui a amené a une sorte de secte, nomme Manichéisme. Les manichees ont la certitude que les origines du mal sont dues par les constantes guerres qui prennent face entre les forces de la lumière, ainsi que du ‘’darkness’’. Depuis que l’âme humaine est considéré comme étant un petit ‘cosmos’, la guerre éternelle est alors reflétée dans l’âme humaine. Augustine fut un Manichee pour 10 ans et fut enseignant dans la ville de Rome et Carthage. Apres 10 ans, il ne fut pas satisfait de cette secte qui se base aussi sur l’astrologie, et qui n’accepte pas l’existence du ‘’free will’’. Cela a cause Augustine a rejeté cette secte et a cherche...
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...December 10, 2011 Dante and St. Augustine Spiritual Journeys During St. Augustine’s life, there was extreme decline while Christianity was being accepted as an official religion. In this era, there was intense political stress, as well as widespread religious concern. The confessions of St. Augustine reveal things in his formative years. During these years, he tried inexorably in overcoming sensual desires, finding faith and understanding philosophical and religious doctrines. Augustine often experienced confusion, blindness and darkness while seeking to find the truth in the creator. Inside him, he truly knew that after he eventually finds him, there would be redemption of his confused heart. Augustine’s confessions begin as a prayer (Kline Para. 5). In 1300 AD, Dante could have headed to hell together with an ancient Roman poet as a guide. In this case, he required better help to find heaven. Virgil’s Aeneid gives an approximation of the Homeric song. The song borrows extensively from Odyssey and Iliad (Kline Para. 7). However, the politics are anti-Greek while there is also a lack of Homer’s irony and a penetrating observation of violence from humans. May be, Virgil could have successfully achieved all of Homer’s effects if he had tried since he is considered to be a strong imitator. However, the Roman imperialist politics determined his agenda. One of Augustine’s confessions consists of the eternal Rose’s yellow that stretches and slopes while diffusing fragrance of...
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...ethics to a more “holistic” way. Nussbaum argues something that many philosophers before her built their philosophies on, the idea of “justice” and how one should go about living a “good” life. For Augustine in particular living a completely just life goes hand in hand with having complete order in your life. Nussbaum argues that the “good life” in a way makes people oblivious and vulnerable to what the world truly has in store and could negate their “human flourishing”. Augustine’s’ philosophy takes account of Nussbaum’s ideas the most because he basically objects to any notions of the good life, Augustine recognized that no object can be good or bad, but our will as humans is what takes a good thing and then makes them bad. He believes that the reason evil even exists is because humans are not perfect. Augustine of Hippo also known as St. Augustine was an early philosopher who’s philosophy paved the way for what is now Western Christianity, one if his most important pieces of work, “City of God” is still read widely today. He influenced Western Christianity greatly because he believed that all Christians should be pacifists but at the same time he also asserted that one should always defend themselves and others especially if authorized by a legitimate authority aka God. Augustine is a strong believer in Natural Theology which is the idea that nature is created by God and all things in nature are good because God only creates good things, but that is when you get the question...
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... | | | | | Question 5: (1 Points) | Matthew, Mark and Luke are based on what writing?<!--[if !supportLists]--> a. Pseudepigrapha b. Quelle c. Apocrypha d. John | | | | | | CHRISTIANITY IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE LESSON 2 Question 1: (1 Points) | Christianity was born in what Empire?<!--[if !supportLists]--> a. Babylonian b. Assyrian c. Hellenistic d. Roman | | | | | Question 2: (1 Points) | Which of the following was opposed by the church?<!--[if !supportLists]--> a. Abortion b. Exposing children c. Sacrificing to pagan gods d. All of the above | | | | | Question 3: (1 Points) | Which of the following did Christians introduce into their religion?<!--[if !supportLists]--> a. Pagan gods b. Pagan philosophy c. Roman law d. All of...
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...Abortion has always been a topical issue within not only the Australia community, and within smaller groups, such as the Catholic Church. This assignment will address the stance of the Catholic Church and its ethics in regards to abortion. Divergence of opinion within the church and an example within Australian society will also be discussed. Renee Descartes and Augustine of Hippo (two Christian philosophers) theories will be applied to abortion, to reach a decision regarding whether or not they would agree or disagree with abortion. It is most likely that Descartes disagrees and Augustine would agree, to a certain extent; however further research will be conducted to provide evidence to reach a conclusion. Renee Descartes was a philosopher...
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...Evil, Christianity, and Saint Augustine Sammy Hoag Philosophy 202 Dr. Ryan Murphy December 2015 What is evil? This ‘problem of evil’ and the existence of evil have plagued the minds of people throughout the centuries. It has been one on the most sought after inquiries and one of the most vexing challenges to Christianity, in explaining the existence of God. Many philosophers and thinkers, both secular and Christian, have endeavored to solve this problem. One of the most notable of whom is Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430). He is perhaps one of the most influential philosophers in the history of the Christian Church. Augustine spent much of his life trying to solve this ‘problem of evil’ and it proved to be quite an undertaking. This paper will explore the problem of evil and argue how Saint Augustine solidified the ways in which philosophy and religion, specifically Christianity, coincide through his work on the concepts of the problem of and the origin of evil. Understanding the problem of evil is essential to everyone because it affects the manner in which life is lived. Whether defending a belief in God or trying to share those beliefs with others everyone will encounter the problem of evil at some point. According to Ed Miller and Jon Jensen, authors of Questions that Matter:...
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...University of Sharjah International Relations Political Theory Ideas on States and Justice in the thought of Augustine and Rousseau Essay Assignment By: May Ramez Mahrat Supervised by: Dr. Jeremy Kleidosty Arguments and philosophical explanations for what justifies power and states, inspired by the European Enlightenment thought, has headed closer toward reasoning and further from faith. The thought of Rousseau and Saint Augustine is a clear representation of the two poles of reason and faith in political thought. Rousseau, outlining the basis of his social contract on the natural goodness of human beings and putting sovereignty in the hand s of people, differs widely from Augustine who addresses the state as an “essential evil” put to discipline men who are sinners by nature. The political arguments of these two philosophers, who lived in two different ages, represent a different kind of Enlightenment for the both ages that they lived in. This essay will discuss Rousseau’s and Augustine’s regards to state, justice and property and will examine the effects of their thoughts on modern politics. Augustine and Rousseau in Comparison Wrapping his political and social beliefs with virtuous, deist and theological Christian discourse, Augustine, the Christian bishop, presents a leap in the Western thought at a time close to the beginning of the middle ages. His political views in his writings are interpreted differently by various scholars as he rarely expresses direct...
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...Dorothy Day was a contemporary of Frances Perkins and on the surface, the two women appeared to be a study in contrasts. Day was something of a "wild child" in her youth until she found religion. She gave up a life of easy living and embraced poverty and devotion to the poor and down trodden. As the prime mover behind the paper The Catholic Worker, throughout her life Day never ceased working for the least fortunate in our society. Because of this she represented much of what Brooks’ model of behavior that we should imitate. Chapters five, six, and seven are devoted to George Marshall, A. Philip Randolph, and George Eliot and did not cover the topic as well as it should have. Chapter eight, "Ordered Love," was dedicated to, St. Augustine of Hippo. In chapter eight Brooks' describes the career of someone who became influential in both theology and philosophy. Brooks states Augustine had to renounce the belief “that he could control his whole life.... He had to sink down into a posture of openness and surrender. Then, after that, he was open enough to receive grace, to feel gratitude and rise upward." Thus fully being built from the flaws that are an integral part of our lives and modeling his life from “crooked...
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...one must stand firmly in christ and in understanding him, lest fall for anything. The bible says that christians must ‘Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.’ (1 Peter 3:15) Furthermore understanding and being able to explain christian thought allows christians to evangelize to non believers. Matthew 16:15 says "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" Finally, better understanding one's beliefs strengthens faith and relationship with God. 2.Discuss the relationship between Faith and Reason. Faith can be defined as a strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof. Hebrews says “Now faith is the conviction concerning those things that are in hope, as if it were these things in action, and the revelation of those things that are unseen” Reason can be defined as a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event. the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of...
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...(shifting from a Western view to a more Eastern one). This essay will be about how my experience with Catholic (and later Orthodox) culture can relate to Richard Rodriguez’s experiences in Late Victorians and how they effected my reading of the story. The first name mentioned in the story Late Victorians is St. Augustine [of Hippo] which is a revealing choice due to the person that St. Augustine was. A 4th and 5th century Bishop he struggled with identity throughout his entire life. Mr. Rodriguez paraphrased St. Augustine as stating, “We are restless hearts, for the earth is not our true home. Human unhappiness is evidence of our immortality. Intuition tells us we are meant for some other city.” (Rodriguez 26) St. Augustine himself stated in his autobiographical book Confessions that in his youth he said, “Give me chastity and continence, but not just yet!” The knowledge of what we are expected to do, and the actions we take in our lives can sometime be intrinsically different. Such events can lead to confusion and a loss of identity but there is always going to be something forming what, and who, we are and become. Regardless of whether its parents (family), society, or religion it is there and makes us act and believe in a way that is beyond us and our understanding. One of the first time’s I’ve had to come to terms with my religious culture and the world of things around me was in Seattle itself. I was working security at the Pacific Science Center and had to work from 4pm until...
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