Essay about Transformation Augustines Journey to...

You prompt us yourself to find satisfaction in appraising you, since you made us tilted toward you, and our heart is unstable until stabilized in you. Quintessentially, this quote from Confessions symbolizes Augustine’s perilous journey towards Christianity. Although appearing earlier in what is colloquially known as the â€Å"first autobiography†, Augustine expounds on this very idea throughout his writings. Whether that includes his attraction and disdain for Manichaeism or his affinity with Neo-Platonism, one could argue this quote acted as the foundation of his inquisitions of these pre-modern dogmatic sects. Augustine, despite his perils with intellectual paradoxes, sought to understand these rigid entities that seemed to have variant†¦show more content†¦During that time, not only did he face numerous bouts of â€Å"soul searching,† he also engaged in intellectual examinations of events often viewed as acts of dissidence. Whether by acting out his erotic desires or by playful thievery, Augustine delved into examining the nature of sin as a means of understanding man’s true intentions with every action. As Augustine discussed and acted out his sexual desires, he stood firm to his idea that he did it out of an innocent need for love. In addition, Augustine’s pear theft acted as a means of showing that one who commits a criminal offense may not fully understand all of the implications it may hold for that person. We begin Augustine’s attraction to Manichaeism with his travels to Carthage. His initial reaction to Carthage was shock, due to the citizen’s audacious affinity towards things which distracted them from God’s benevolence. One prominent example of this was their affinity towards theatre acts which depicted scenes of enjoying things irrelevant to how one should love God. Although this struck Augustine as quite odd, he nonetheless enjoyed these theatrical acts, often positively remarking about scenes of immense sadness and depression. He came to question whether or not pity, as shared by the citizens of Carthage, was meant as an indication to what his life should represent. This book, however, urges philosophy uponShow MoreRelatedWhile St. Augustine’s autobiography is not comparable to the poetic dream vision of Inferno, the600 Words   |  3 PagesWhile St. Augustine’s autobiography is not comparable to the poetic dream vision of Inferno, the theological background of the two works is nearly identical. Dante the character of Inferno, like Augustine in Confessions, is a homo viator, a spiritual wanderer on earth; Dante the poet believes that the soul’s sinful state leads to retribution in Hell. The significance of both works benefit in understanding the journeys of man in his quest for a more spiritual association, the faults Dante and AugustineRead MoreAugustine s Confessions By Augustine1137 Words   |  5 PagesConfessions, Augustine tells his entire life story leading up to his conversion to Christianity. Throughout his life, he experiences a vast amount of events, both that had major impacts and minor impacts. In the Confessi ons, Augustine called these events â€Å"episodes. The episodes supported his transformation of who he was into who he wanted to be after his conversion to Christianity. Certain episodes in Augustine’s life led to inspiring moments, while others lead to grief and pain. One of the mostRead MoreBorn Into Families Without Great Wealth Or Notable Prestige1599 Words   |  7 Pagesstudied the religious climate of their generations and experienced transformations in their lives bringing about personal spiritual enlightenment. Affected by the state of the church, Christianity, and their moral indiscretions, both Dante and Augustine wrote responsively towards their personal beliefs and values shaped by distinctive circumstances. The compositions of Confessions and The Divine Comedy highlight the spiritual journeys of these two authors. In addition, these compositions provide anRead MoreEssay about Reflecting on St. Augustine at ACS1475 Words   |  6 PagesMaturing as a person, w hether it is physical, emotional, spiritual, or intellectual require a person to change and transformation these changes can vary in when or how they take place. While growing up, people change their perspective and gain new insights about new experiences. In â€Å"The Confessions,† readers see St. Augustine struggle with the question of â€Å"Who am I?† while figuring out his belief in God. The mission of Villanova University is to help create â€Å"thoughtful, intellectually-curious, andRead 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 MoreSaint Augustine s Life Of Augustine1679 Words   |  7 Pagesown life is testimony to this as God s love is seen in each stage he went through along his journey back to the truth (Pusey, 2014). Throughout the entire book Augustine uses philosophical and theological reasoning; he also includes an exegesis of biblical scripture. In the first nine books are written as an autobiography where he passionately recounts the events in his life that led to his transformation. Starting with his birth he writes openly about many of his sins and ties to false religionsRead MoreHistorical Writings Of The Early Middle Ages : Origins And Development Of Early Biographies And Hagiographies1835 Words   |  8 Pages(161-565 CE) to the early middle ages the origins and development of early biographies and hagiographies were beginning to occur and transform. In this essay, I will argue how and why people wrote biographical writings by referring to the works of Augustine’s Confessions, Einhard’s Life of Charlemagne and the hagiography, Perpetua. First of all, it is important to remember that biographical writings at first were regarded as a mere way of writing down history. Focusing on one individual’s life eventsRead MoreThe Apostle Paul, Saint Augustine Martin Luther Essay3381 Words   |  14 Pagesfollowers of Jesus with unequaled religious zeal. His orthodoxy, and it alone, was the reason for his hostility to Christ and his zeal as a persecutor (Bornkamm 15). He attempted to do what he could to destroy the church of God. It was on a journey to Damascus to arrest followers of Christ that Pauls life was changed forever. He experienced an intense light that blinded him, and he heard a voice that said, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Saul asked, Who are you, Lord? The reply came