St. Augustine

Definition

St. Augustine was an early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings greatly influenced Western Christianity and philosophy. He is best known for his works like 'Confessions' and 'The City of God,' where he explored the relationship between faith and reason, and the nature of God in relation to time and eternity. His ideas established a foundation for understanding how faith can coexist with rational thought, while also addressing how God exists outside of time, shaping Christian doctrine for centuries.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Augustine famously stated, 'Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe,' highlighting his views on faith's role in understanding truth.
2. He proposed that God exists outside of time, suggesting that past, present, and future are all equally present to Him, a concept known as God's eternity.
3. Augustine's 'City of God' contrasted the Earthly City, characterized by human sinfulness, with the City of God, representing divine order and eternal truth.
4. His struggle with the nature of evil led him to assert that evil is a privation of good rather than a substance itself.
5. Augustine’s integration of Greek philosophy into Christian theology helped establish a framework for later thinkers to reconcile faith with reason.

Review Questions

• How did St. Augustine reconcile faith and reason in his writings?
  • St. Augustine reconciled faith and reason by arguing that while faith is essential for understanding divine truths, reason also plays a vital role in exploring those truths. He believed that human intellect could lead one towards faith but acknowledged that certain mysteries of God surpass human understanding. Augustine asserted that both faith and reason are pathways to grasping ultimate reality, thereby establishing a harmonious relationship between them in his theological framework.
• What are Augustine's views on God's relationship to time and how do they impact Christian theology?
  • Augustine viewed God as existing outside of time, positing that He perceives all moments—past, present, and future—simultaneously. This perspective shifted Christian theology by emphasizing God's transcendence over time and His omnipresence in creation. It also provided a foundation for understanding divine providence, where God's eternal nature allows Him to guide history without being limited by temporal constraints.
• Evaluate how Augustine's concepts of Original Sin and evil shape his understanding of human nature in relation to divine grace.
  • Augustine's concepts of Original Sin and evil shape his understanding of human nature by asserting that all humans are born into sin due to the fall of Adam and Eve. He argued that this inherent sinfulness renders humanity incapable of achieving goodness without divine grace. In Augustine's view, grace is essential for salvation, illustrating that while humans may strive for righteousness through their efforts, it is ultimately God's unmerited favor that enables them to overcome sin and restore their relationship with Him.

Related terms

Manichaeism: A religious philosophy that combined elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism, which Augustine followed before converting to Christianity.

Original Sin: The Christian doctrine that asserts all humans inherit a fallen state due to Adam and Eve's transgression, a concept significantly developed by Augustine.

Neoplatonism: A philosophical system that reinterprets Platonic thought, emphasizing the existence of a single source from which all reality emanates, influencing Augustine's views on God and creation.