Essay on Analysis of St. Augustine’s Confessions - 1927 Words

St. Augustine’s Confessions St. Augustine is a man with a rational mind. As a philosopher, scholar, and teacher of rhetoric, he is trained in and practices the art of logical thought and coherent reasoning. The pursuits of his life guide him to seek concrete answers to specific questions. Religion, the practice of which relies primarily on faith—occasionally blind faith—presents itself as unable to be penetrated by any sort of scientific study or inquiry. Yet, like a true scientist and philosopher, one of the first questions St. Augustine poses in his Confessions is: â€Å"What, then, is the God I worship† (23)? For a long time, Augustine searches for knowledge about God as a physical body, a particular entity—almost as if the Lord†¦show more content†¦One of the opening lines of his Confessions may provide a clue: â€Å"Man is one of your creatures, Lord, and his instinct is to praise you† (21). This suggests that man possesses an innate instinct to seek God an d spiritual enlightenment. It implies that man, as a product of God, will inherently desire knowledge of and a relationship with his creator. Augustine continues by saying: â€Å"The thought of [God] stirs [man] so deeply that he cannot be content unless he praises you, because you made us for yourself and our hearts find no peace until they rest in you† (21). This suggests that though man may struggle on earth, should he decide to turn to God he will experience peace and rest in the Lord. Here Augustine also states that unless man has found God, â€Å"he cannot be content,† implying that those who have not found God will feel a constant inner void. Despite the fact that Augustine comes to view a relationship with God as a natural and fundamental part of life, filling an inherent void, he also makes it clear that he derives great pleasure from his newfound religious understanding. So what does Augustine gain from religion, and his relationship with God? What had been lacking in his relationships with other men prior to his Christian awakening that then received fulfillment through his relationship with God? Augustine says: â€Å"Dust and ashes though I am, let me appeal to your pity, since it isShow MoreRelated St. Augustin Essay1250 Words   |  5 Pages From the analysis of St. Augustine Confessions and Beowulf, it is clear that the two authors, St. Augustine and the poet respectively, differ on their views of death, which helps to paint a better picture of the world that each writer lived in. In Augustines writings, death plays a major role in life; it serves as the stepping stone to a greater existence in heaven. In Augustines world, Christianity and God both play an important role in how death is viewed. In the poets writings we see a differentRead 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 journe y during his conversion to Catholicism. Completing his book in 400, St. Augustine incorporatedRead 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. 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These are all questions that are explored and , sometimes left unanswered in Confessions , a book by St. Augustine of Hippo. Standing at the forefront as one of the most important figures in the Ancient Western Church, Augustine was a man of impeccable religious stature, in his later years. In his youth, however, he was a vivacious sinnerRead MoreAnalysis: How the First Christian Books Were Written Collected and Preserved1321 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿An Analysis of How the First Christian Books Were Written, Collected, and Preserved It is no secret that Scripture was written by Christs disciples but tradition tells us that it is the inspired word of God. Scripture itself has been handed down to us through the centuries by the Christian Church. It was the early Church, founded by Jesus Christ (as the Bible itself illustrates), which first gathered all the books of the Bible and gave its authoritative pronouncement that these books were theRead More St. Augustine and the Problem of Evil from a Christian Basis2419 Words   |  10 PagesSt. Augustine and the Problem of Evil from a Christian Basis In his Confessions, St. Augustine writes about a large number of topics that continue to have relevance today. The text documents the development of Augustine’s faith and his Christian philosophy, and one thing of particular interest is his argument for the nature of evil. Christianity predicates several important ideas that Augustine builds upon in his philosophy, and within its context, he presents a thorough, compellingRead MoreEssay on Comparing Christianity and Buddhism1675 Words   |  7 Pagesand productive life. Many theologians consider St. Augustine’s â€Å"Confessions† to be the fundamental nature of Christianity. In â€Å"The Confessions,† St. Augustine addressed himself eloquently and passionately to the enduring spiritual questions that have stirred the minds and hearts of thoughtful men since time began. It is a history of a youth’s fierce struggle to overcome his sinful ways and achieve a life of spiritual grace. The essence to Augustine’s message is that to be a Christian means to moveRead MoreUnderstanding the Self- a Comparison of Descartes and Augustine1593 Words   |  7 Pagesa role in understanding the world. Augustine believes that knowledge does not stem directly from the senses, but rather the senses assist the mind in terms of rationalization and greater understanding. In a book entitled The Doctrine of the Self in St. Augustine and in Descartes, by Marguerite Witmer Kehr, Augustine is quoted saying, â€Å"Whatever the eyes can see, they see truly† (Pg. 588). Unlike Descartes who believes that the senses deceive the mind, Augustine believes that all experiences in some