St. Augustines Conversion to Christianity Essay - 1129 Words

St. Augustines Conversion to Christianity Aurelius Augustinius, St. Augustine, was born in 354 A.D. in Tagaste, a town in North Africa. Born just over a century before the fall of Rome, Augustine would live his entire life within the Roman empire. Augustine was a great Christian thinker and wrote numerous works which survive today, and offer us a vivid glimpse into the period. His works and thoughts on Christ, the nature of God, the role of the Church, and myriad other topics, shaped much of medieval thought. He would remain a major influence for 1000 years after he died. Two of his works stand out as possibly the most important of his writings: City of God, and Confessions. Augustines Confessions is the first ever†¦show more content†¦From an early age, his parents stressed studies, particularly in rhetoric. IN 873 A.D. Augustine was studying in Carthage where he was first exposed to the works of Cicero. After reading Hortensius Augustine became enamored of philosophy. As he put it, The book excited and inflamed me...,(P. 39) and he ...longed after immortal wisdom. (P. 38). With this, he had found a new purpose in life, and set out the find wisdom and truth. Ciceros writings were eloquent, and as such appealed to Augustines intellect. It was a short time after his exposure to Classical philosophy that Augustine joined the Manicheans. The Manicheans believed that spiritual salvation and the grace of God could only be achieved through study and interpretation of the Bible and other works to find specialized, secret knowledge. The Manicheans held a certain appeal for Augustine. The belief that only through higher reasoning and study could one achieve grace, fit with Augustines own perception of the value of reasoning, and classical rationalism. Augustine was a skilled rhetorician and orator, and had a great deal of confidence in his intellectual superiority. The Manicheans also felt themselves intellectually superior, and Augustine was drawn to this sect in part, because of his intellectual snobbery. Though Augustine remained involved with the Manichees for nine years, he questioned certain of their beliefs from theShow MoreRelatedThe Writings Of Augustine s Writings Essay1721 Words   |  7 Pageswhich find resonance in other religious texts such as the Qur’an, the Chronicle of St. Denis, and passages from the Tanakh. Augustine began writing Confessions in around 400 CE as a spiritual autobiography that walks us through his life from birth to his arrival at Christianity. His spiritual journey combined with his prayers shows an in depth understanding of a man and his progression to understanding Christianity. Augustine was raised by his Christian mother, Monica, and his Pagan father. He grewRead MoreSt. Augustine s Confessions984 Words   |  4 Pagesfaith. For St. Augustine, faith provides more questions than answers, but consequently leads to his life as a bishop and eventually sainthood. For some, however, the Bible provides the answers to all the questions that go unanswered by common sense. In St. Augustine’s Confessions, Augustine is able to further understand himself and his faith in Christ by reflecting on anecdotes of his past. Conversely, the Bible’s use of etiology provides spiritual justification for physical realities. In St. Augustine’sRead MoreSaint Augustine Essays719 Words   |  3 PagesSaint Augustine Saint Augustine, b. Nov. 13, 354, d. Aug. 28, 430, was one of the foremost philosopher-theologians of early Christianity and, while serving (396-430) as bishop of Hippo Regius, the leading figure in the church of North Africa. He had a profound influence on the subsequent development of Western thought and culture and, more than any other person, shaped the themes and defined the problems that have characterized the Western tradition of Christian Theology. Among his many writingsRead MoreAugustine : A Journey Of Conversion1043 Words   |  5 PagesAugustine: A Journey of Conversion Before submitting himself to God, Augustine lived a life controlled by various sinful tendencies such as theft and lust. Surrounded by strong believers of Catholicism, such as his mother, St. Monica, Augustine grew up questioning Christ and the faith and rather explored other religions. Two religions that Augustine devoted himself to were Manichaeism and Neoplatonism. While both religions had strengths and flaws, neither truly satisfied Augustine’s spiritual emptinessRead MoreEssay on Saint Augustine970 Words   |  4 Pagesin Carthage that he took a concubine and later had a son named Adeodatus from her. It was in this period of his life that embraced Manichaeism, which is a belief that one god is responsible for all good and another responsible for all evil. Augustine’s belief in Manichaeism prompted Monica, his mother, not to allow his entrance into the family’s house. Even with her actions, she continued praying and hoping that Augustine would find the Lord. After he ended his studies in Carthage, he becameRead MoreSaint Augustine : The Confessions Of St. Augustine704 Words   |  3 PagesSt. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, is a true defender of the Catholic faith with an inspirational conversion story which he shares in his writings titled the Confessions. Published around 400 A.D., St. Augustine Confessions had a major influence on western civilization. This beautifully written and intellectually brilliantly narrative on his conversion, St. Agustin brings to light his personal spiritual journey during his conversion to Catholicism. Completing his book in 400, St. Augustine incorporatedRead MoreSt. Augustine s Confessions And Dante s Inferno1746 Words   |  7 PagesIn St. Augustine’s Confessions and Dante’s Inferno, the central characters in their respective narratives are presented a message from which induces distinct reactions. More importantly, their reactions are reflections of their perspective concerning the Christian outlook towards life and passion. In Book VIII.xi (29) the reader finds St. Augustine in a state of despair and anguish because of his ongoing internal struggle between his mind and body. Afterwards, he undergoes a surreal experienceRead MoreAugustine’s Journey to the Truth in The Confessions of St. Augustine952 Words   |  4 Pagesstarted out in childhood with a restless heart because he had to live in two different worlds. These worlds consisted of his mother’s Christian faith, and the world of everything else. These two worlds confused and disturbed Augustine as a child. Augustine’s father was pagan and his mother was Christian, and they both wanted him to be very successful in the world. As he became confused, he began asking questions that could not be answered such as, â€Å"Humans often feel restless, but what is it they needRead MoreThe Contributions of St. Augustine and Brigid of Kildare to Christianity1003 Words   |  5 PagesThe Contributions of St. Augustine and Brigid of Kildare to Christianity St. Augustine and Bridgid of Kildare were two very influential people in the church during the fourth and fifth centuries. St. Augustine and Bridgid of Kildare were most famous for the monasteries that they founded. Both St. Augustine and Bridgid were devout Christians who contributed greatly to the growth of Christianity. Both of these people encouraged the spread of Christianity, the belief in a life of solitude, andRead MoreReasons For St Augustine s Conversion2016 Words   |  9 PagesSaint Augustine’s conversion. This conversion was believed to be the result of an ultimate battle of sexual desire with spirit. St Augustine Biography Info Augustine of Hippo was born on November 13, in AD 354, in Thagaste (modern day Souk Ahras, Algeria), and died on August 28, in AD 430, in modern-day Annaba, Algeria (then known as Hippo Regius). It was in the latter city where he was named Bishop 35 years prior to his death. It is a challenge to encapsulate renowned personalities, and with St. Augustine