Augustines Confessions - Term Paper Example

Provide a brief biography of the Augustines Confessions involve a combination of autobiography, philosophy, theology and some explanations of the Christian bible (Augustine 5). Augustine narrates about his life in the first nine chapters. The chapters assess his life from birth (354 A.D) to the time he changed to Catholicism (386 A.D). He recounts about his life experience through the autobiography. Nonetheless, he based his narration on religion so that readers could learn something about his religious path. He was born and raised in Thagate eastern part of Algeria, which was then a part of the Roman Empire (Augustine 6). He attended school in both Thagaste and Carhage (Musick 11). The social life he experienced as a teenager was full of sins. The children were taught to value material things from the time they were in school. Augustine grew in this world, and this made him encounter sexual behavior at an early age (Augustine 7). Augustine also engaged in false philosophies. As a teenager, he valued material things rather than God and religion. However, he explains how his uncouth behavior was punished through having a disorderly, confused and full of grief life. Nevertheless, the youthful Augustine creates a passion for the quest of philosophical truth. He also developed an interest in learning the “doctrines of manichaeism, skepticism and neoplatonism” (Wills 23). In his confessions, he incorporated catholic theology with neoplatonic concepts. Augustine’s movements from Thagate and Carthage and between Rome and Milan did not free him from doubts about Catholicism and its doctrines. He joined the catholic religion because his mother was from a catholic faith (Wills 24). Filled with doubts about the catholic religion he pursues a career in teaching of rhetoric, he later resented this job claiming that it was a waste of ideas. He also condemns his habit of being involved in sexual behavior at an early age and other sinful activities. When he visited Milan, he decided to embark on Catholicism as his only true faith (Wills 24). Nonetheless, the subject of baptism and abstinence from sex was still difficult for him. He had difficulties in devoting himself fully into the catholic faith. However, he gets full change in his Milan garden and he converts to a staunch and faithful catholic (Musick 12). The final four chapters of his book were based mostly on religious and philosophical concepts of “memory (Book X), time and eternity (Book XI), and the explanation of the Book of Genesis (Books XII and XIII)”. Even though, he changes the story of the book from secular life to religious life, the confessions of his work are still seen in the religious section (Augustine, Gerald & Daniel 45).The themes and concepts of the first chapters were also applied in the last four chapters. A common theme of redemptions revealed in the entire book. Augustine reveals the painful process he went through before he became a true believer of God (Musick 13). Summarize and highlight the reading assignments. The autobiography provided by Augustine shows how the creation of God returned to him. His confessions and the teachings from the book were established to ensure people get to know about Christianity and God. In addition, Augustine wrote the book to ensure sinners are converted to become selfless and responsible people in society. Augustines Confessions tend to ensure people are informed of the existence of God and how peaceful one will be become if Christianity embarked. Augustine shows how miserable and depressed he was when he was a sinner and practiced sinful activities (Augustine, Gerald & Daniel 46). For instance, from childhood he was taught to value material things than everything else, nonetheless, the material things did not bring happiness to his life. Instead, he became miserable and wanted more. Therefore, he was forced to commit more sins so that he could fulfill his material things and sexual desire. Nonetheless, after he got salvation he became a devoted servant of God and advocated to ensure his ways were right and were not against God’s wishes (Augustine, Gerald & Daniel 46). Through his work, Augustine is trying to communicate to many people especially the people who know about religion but are still reluctant of changing their lifestyles. He explained in his work, that he was reluctant too at first, but he chose to change later and became a devoted Christian. He explains the advantages of Christianity, and the happiness brought by being a true believer. Although his father was a pagan, he decided to follow his mother’s religion. This will provide an insight to the people brought up in non-believing families to hold up to their faith even though it is against their parents wishes (Augustine, Gerald & Daniel 48). By reading the book, a new perception grows of what Christianity really involves. Baptism and abandoning evil ways is compulsory if an individual wishes to live a clean life. For instance, Augustine could not be considered a devout Christian when he accepted catholic as the true religion, but he was reluctant to get baptized and abandoning his evil ways. Therefore, by reading the book a new perception concerning the book brought to light and how a sinner can become a devout Christian if baptism is done and evil ways are abandoned (Augustine, Gerald & Daniel 49). 3. Evaluate the readings as to its value as a historical source; was the material easy to read and comprehend; did the readings add to your insights and knowledge of the history of the early church, etc. The book provides value as a historic source. This is because through the book the historic lifestyles of the Roman Empire revealed. During the time, of the Roman Empire, a number of people were pagans and they cared more about material things rather than believing in God and Christianity (Augustine 29). For instance, Augustine reveals that he was taught to value material things at a tender age. People around him thought having possession of materials things like wealth and growth could enhance happiness. Nonetheless, this is not true because Augustine reveals that he was not pleased with his life. In addition, through the book the historical culture of the people at that time also revealed. Children could be engaged in early sex, and no one could scold them (Augustine, Gerald & Daniel 50). Therefore, before Christianity expanded everywhere, the early Christians experienced a number of negativities and it was difficult to convince people to follow the word of God. Through the book, we also learn about Christianity in the early days. When religion began many people overlooked the concept, and very few people embraced Christianity. The people of that time were more controlled by material greed, and they considered church to be a waste of time. The material provided in the book was not difficult to read and comprehend. Augustine has not used a complicated language in writing the book as anyone can read and understand the book. In addition, the vocabulary used in the book is also easy to comprehend. Nonetheless, Protestants will face difficulties interpreting the book because; Augustine wrote the book based on the catholic faith. The reading of confession by Augustine provided a new insight and understanding of the early Christian church. Most people were pagans, and they lived a reckless life (Augustine 30). Therefore, by reading the book a new perception of how the early churches grew, and the challenges they faced. The spiritual and religious leaders at the time had a difficult period of convincing the non-believers and the pagans to embark on Christianity. Nonetheless, God also speaks through mysterious ways, as sinful as Augustine was he was later changed through baptism. In addition, the early church faced with number problems of ensuring those who were baptized remained baptized and devoted to the Christianity faith (Augustine, Gerald & Daniel 51). Augustine gives a clear account of his life from the time he was a sinner to when he became a devoted Christians. Therefore, even though one undergoes a difficult and sinful experience in life, through baptism, all the sinful acts can be left behind, and a new life embarked. Communicating to the people through real life experience will motivate people to follow a similar path (Augustine 31). “Confessions” by Augustine is an insightful book and motivates many people to embark on religion. The book specifies how a young boy who knew nothing about religion changed for the better. Augustine lived a sinful life because he lacked proper nurturing about Christianity and religion when he was still a young boy, therefore, if children are allowed to attend the church without being coerced to do otherwise (Augustine 32). In addition, the book inspires one not to give up and to keep on the faith in order to succeed. Through proper devotion and a strong faith, spiritual leaders will not have difficulties when convicting people to remain saved. References Augustine, B. Confessions. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 2011. Print. Augustine, Gerald G. Walsh & Daniel J. Honan. The City of God, Books Xvii-Xxii. Washington, D.C: Catholic University of America Press, 2010. Print. Augustine. The Confessions of St. Augustine: Modern English Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2008. Print. Musick, John R. Saint Augustine: Story of the Huguenots in America. Hawaii: University press of the Pacific, 2011. Print. Wills, Garry. Saint Augustine. New York, N.Y: Penguin Books, 2005. Print. Read More