Religion in its Initial Stage - Essay Example

ST. AUGUSTINE Looking into the history of the religions of the world, it appears crystal clear that the struggle and hard efforts made by the founders of different faiths and their companions as well as predecessors maintained great contributions in the development, popularity and success of their faith, without which the growth of that religious set of belief was not possible at all. The same is the case with the world’s most popular religion Christianity and its saints, who rendered valuable services for the cause of their faith; the name of St. Augustine is also one among those personalities, who preached the religion in its initial stage, at the time when Christianity was in the budding. His well-reputed work, under the title “The Confessions”, reveals the very facts about his conversion from paganism to Manichaean and further to Christianity subsequently. Describing the initial life of the author, and gradual progress in his mental capabilities and spiritual revolution, the book serves as the first western autobiography ever written by a Christian saint during the fourth century of Christian era. Consists of thirteen volumes, “The Confessions” narrates the birth place and initial years of the writer’s life. Born in the African state of Numidia (modern Algeria), to a pagan father and Christian mother in 354 A.D., St. Augustine had very liberal ideas about life. Himself a pagan like his father, the young Augustine was an intellectual and had been blessed with a brilliant brain and magnificent ideas. Cicero’s Hortensius also influenced his mind; it is therefore, he converted to another faith, called Manichaean, at the age of 20. Augustine was dexterous in rhetoric, which he taught during his stay in Carthage, Rome and then the royal court of Milan subsequently. His stay at Milan brought significant changes in his life, as he had related the story of his traveling to the royal court and delivering of speeches according to the imperial instructions in the fourth volume of his book. He wanted to throw away the load of the over-burdened royal commands, which had created fuss and frustrations in his life. Her mother followed him from Numidia to Rome and Milan, as she had been very much worried about the religious beliefs of his son. Being an orthodox and highly devoted Catholic, she was eager to convert Augustine to the same faith. Though once pagan and Manichaean, St. Augustine was always eager to search out God, as the first chapter of the fifth volume reveals. Heal all my bones and let them say, “O Lord, who is like unto thee? It is not that one who confesses to thee instructs thee as to what goes on within him. For the closed heart does not bar thy sight into it, nor does the hardness of our heart hold back thy hands, for thou canst soften it at will, either by mercy or in vengeance, “and there is no one who can hide himself from thy heat.” (Translated by Outler 2007) The volume also indicates that he had gone fed up with the practices and thoughts observed and adopted by the Manichaean before he was twenty nine years old. He was in search of the light that could enkindle his soul, his heart, his brain – each and every aspect of his life, and could protect him from the attacks of the devil. He considered pagan faith and Manichean belief as evil ones. His antipathy towards Manichaean bishops could be observed in these words: There had just come to Carthage, Augustine submits, a certain bishop of the Manicheans, Faustus by name, a great snare of the devil; and many were entangled by him through the charm of his eloquence. (Volume V, Chap III: Quoted in Christian Classical Ethereal Library) The same volume of his book narrates the story of his association with the Bishop of Milan, called St. Ambrose, which left indelible impacts upon his life, and encouraged him towards following the teachings of Christianity. In addition, the sermons delivered by and discussions took place with St. Anthony of the Desert created an unflinching situation of mental stress and strain, which forced him quit his professional life as rhetoric. He intended to devote himself entirely to the service of the Creator. It is therefore, each and every word that describes his journey towards spiritual light, expresses the depth of his love as well as purity of his heart to save himself from going astray on the road of life. The writings of great philosophers and authors like Aristotle, Cicero, Mani and the Seven Sages started looking humble and inferior, before the Divine teachings and code of life, had been stated in the Bible. He writes that he came to the conclusion that the Manicheans were to be abandoned. For he had judged, even in that period of doubt, that he could not remain in a sect to which he preferred some of the philosophers. But still he refused to commit the cure of his fainting soul to the philosophers, because they were without the saving name of Christ. (V: XIV) Though persuaded by both his mother St. Monica, and senior associate St. Ambrose of Milan, Augustine was still in suspicion regarding the truthfulness and validity of the Christianity. Though, he had heard many tales regarding the people’s conversion into Christianity, and the fast increasing number of Christians motivated him to be one among those, yet Simplicianus’s story was really remarkable for the young Augustine that pushed him from Manicheans’ faith to embrace Christianity. The tales of tyranny and cruelties inflicted by the Romans on Christians were really horrible and startling for Augustine, and he was astounded by coming to know the sacrifices made by the great personalities like Jesus Christ himself, St. Perpetua, St. Fecilitas, their companions and others, for the cause and uplift of the their religion. The moving stories of the initial decades from the advent of Christianity were really heart-melting for him; it is therefore, he declares himself as the easy going person who escapes from hardships and difficulties in life. He submits that he was too feeble to bear the burden of hardships; hence he selected the easier way, and for that particular reason, the whole of his life was one of inner turbulence and indolent irresolution, due to the very fact there were countless pressures he had been undergoing, even though unwillingly. (Volume VIII: Chapter I) Augustine views the embracing of a true religion as the most rejoicing thing and the salvation of the soul as well, that make all despair and disappointment disappeared from his mind. He opines his conversion to Christianity as the special favors to him from the Lord. The twelfth chapter of the eighth volume of the Confessions describes the most imperative incident of his life, which undoubtedly revolutionized the life scenario of St. Augustine, turning him more and more devoted to the noble cause of religion. According to Augustine, he had already recognized the impurity of his heart and was seriously ashamed of his illegitimate relationships with his mistress, which resulted in the birth of his only son. There was a storm of repentance and remorse in his heart, flowing through eyes like a deep river. When deep reflection had drawn up out of the secret depths of my soul, Augustine submits, all my misery and had heaped it up before the sight of my heart, there arose a mighty storm, accompanied by a mighty rain of tears. That I might give way fully to my tears and lamentations, I stole away from Alypius, for it seemed to me that solitude was more appropriate for the business of weeping. (Volume VIII: Chapter XII) He was extremely afraid of his misdeeds and sins, and thought that his Lord would never forgive his malpractices at all. During his utter state of dejection and repentance, he suddenly heard the voice of an unseen child, from the neighborhood at Milan, who was singing in these words: “Pick it up, read it; pick it up, read it.” It was actually the turning point of his life-span, which changed his life style altogether. At first he regarded the innocent voice as a usual song sung by a child; but by involving into deep contemplation and reading between the very lines, he successfully got the point that it is the commands from Heavens, which encouraged him to pick up the Bible and strive to understand the commands it instructs and the message it coveys to man. Hence, the innocent voice in the form of a child’s song completed the conversion and devotion of St. Augustine towards the divine wisdom, knowledge and the supreme light that was far enough to show him the right path—the path of piousness and chastity, the path to the eternal peace and glory, and the path to submitting to the Divine commands and orders. As soon as he heard the voice, he got up and moved to the place where he had left the Holy Scriptures. He opened the Bible, according to the instructions given to him in the form of the child’s voice and started reading the text: “Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.” (Volume VIII: Chapter XII) It was the moment when St. Augustine decided to hold the book of Bible from the core of his heart, and aimed at conveying the message, described in it, to the masses without discrimination. Tears were flowing from his eyes continuously, and he was begging the pardon of the Lord on the one hand, and sought His help and support while entering into new faith on the other. His heart had been filled with lots of joys as well as love and adoration for Almighty God, the most Beneficent and the most Merciful to His creatures. He was as determined as rock in respect of paying utmost heed to his commitment and dedication regarding observing the noble divine teachings wholeheartedly. Both of his benefactors i.e. his mother St. Monica as well as the Bishop of Milan St. Ambrose were extremely delighted over the success of their mission in respect of Augustine’s conversion to Christianity. Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose along with Adeodatus and Alypius. Thus, the unbound passion and devotion to search out the truth not only led him towards the way to heavenly glow, but also turned an ordinary sinful man into the preacher, bishop and saint consequently. Hence, it reveals the very fact that the Lord of Heavens and the earth does not let the true seeker of heavenly light; the same was the case with St. Augustine, whom the Lord of the Empyrean not only blessed with unconditional pardons, but also bestowed upon him respect, honor and triumph not only in this world of mortal life, but also his devotion and love for his God would lead him blessings in the world Hereinafter. REFERENCES: Augustine, St. The Confessions. 397 A.D. (Translated by Outler, Albert C. 2007: Retrieved in http://www.ccel.org/ccel/augustine/confessions. html) Read More