Theologian and philosopher Saint Augustine, often known as Augustine of Hippo, was of Berber heritage and served as the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. Because of the influence his writings had on the growth of Western philosophy and Christianity during the Patristic Period, he is regarded as one of the most important Church Fathers of the Latin Church.
His demise on August 28th is commemorated as his memorial day. Because of his beliefs regarding salvation and divine grace, many Protestants, particularly Calvinists and Lutherans, regard him as one of the theological forefathers of the Protestant Reformation.
In the words of Augustine's contemporaries Jerome and Tertullian, he "established anew the ancient Faith." He was initially lured to the varied Manichaean faith before switching to the Hellenistic Neoplatonic school of thought.
After becoming a Christian and being baptised in 386, Augustine developed a distinctive method of thinking about philosophy and theology that was receptive to various opinions and perspectives.
Augustine had a vision of the Church as a spiritual City of God that was separate from the material City when the Western Roman Empire started to fall apart. He continues to be revered as a saint despite some claims to the contrary, and numerous Eastern Church Fathers, most notably Gregory Palamas, have been influenced by him.
His feast day is celebrated by the Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches on June 15.
His early life can be summed up as under −
Augustine was born in 354 at the municipium of Thagaste in the Roman province of Numidia (current-day Souk Ahras, Algeria).
Augustine finished his studies in Carthage at the age of 17 thanks to the generosity of his countryman Romanianus.
Augustine was a brilliant student who had a keen intellectual curiosity from the start, but he never mastered Greek.
At the age of 31, Augustine decided to become a Christian in late August of 386 after learning that Ponticianus and his pals had read Anthony of the Desert for the first time.
He became well-known for denouncing the Manichaean religion that he had previously practised and for preaching (more than 350 sermons that have been recorded are believed to be authentic).
When he was alive, he delivered between 6,000 and 10,000 sermons, but only about 500 of them are still available.
He received the name "Augustine of Hippo" because he was made coadjutor bishop of Hippo in 395 and promoted to full bishop shortly after.
He also gave his belongings to the Thagaste church. To minister to the diverse members of his congregation, he would choose the verses that the church would read each week.
Augustine worked very hard to win the Hipponians over to Christianity. He was living at the episcopal home after leaving his monastery, yet he kept up his monastic lifestyle.
The Christian belief that humans inherit a corrupt nature in need of regeneration and a propensity for wicked behaviour at birth is known as original sin.
According to Augustine, either pride arose first, then a stupid act of disobedience to God, or pride came first. If Satan hadn't "the root of evil" instilled in their senses, they wouldn't have succumbed to haughtiness and stupidity.
Concupiscence or libido, which influenced people's knowledge, will, and emotions as well as their desires, particularly sexual desire, was detrimental to human nature.
The Christian sect known as Donatism split the Carthaginian region's Church between the fourth and sixth centuries.
The Donatist movement, which Augustine of Hippo witnessed, endured until the Muslim conquests of the seventh and ninth centuries when it eventually died out.
The Donatists did not acknowledge the sacraments or the spiritual authority of priests and bishops who were adherents during the persecution.
The Roman Empire was under constant attack throughout the fifth century CE by Goths, Visigoths, and Vandals. The tragedy of Alaric I's sacking of Rome in 410 CE led any remaining non-Christians to blame Christians for upsetting the gods.
In response to these critics, Augustine wrote his second major work, On the City of God Against the Pagans (413–426 CE).
The book portrayed the battle between God and the Devil as the central theme of human history. The "city of God," a new Jerusalem, is home to individuals who commit themselves to the everlasting truth of God and the ultimate celestial realm for all believers.
Military authorities, theologians, ethicists, and policymakers all study the just war theory, a doctrine of military ethics. It is frequently referred to as a custom.
According to Augustine, Christian pacifism ought to be an intellectual and personal belief. But to remain nonviolent when there is a grave injustice that can only be righted by violence would be wicked.
He believed, in essence, pursuing peace must provide one the choice to struggle to ensure its long-term survival. For the sake of restoring peace, such a war could not be preventive but defensive.
Augustine has taught us that because everyone in the human race has sinned and rebelled against God, no one can be saved by themselves. Those who have seen Christ know that they must completely trust him and not rely on their skills, characteristics, or heredity to be saved.
In order to become righteous, wise, and holy like God in eternity, according to Augustine, man must make an effort to advance in virtue, wisdom, and love while still on earth by surrendering his corrupt intellect and rebellious will to God's perfect Charity.
Q1. How does Augustine feel about God?
Ans. As a matter of faith, Augustine essentially says that because God is fair and just, he cannot currently be the cause of evil. If you know or think that God is good—it is incorrect to believe otherwise—then he does no damage, then this statement is true. God is the source of all creation, and all that is well existing.
Q2. What was Augustine obsessed with
Ans. Because Augustine appeared to be such a huge sinner himself in the fourth century, sinners have long adored the saint. According to his famous masterpiece, "The City of God," he was sex-obsessed.
Q3. What does Augustine argue about evil?
Ans. The "privation of good" is how Augustine defined evil in The Enchiridion, a book about faith, hope, and love. As a result, rather than being in the same way as good, evil is defined as its absence. The existence of good does not require the existence of evil.
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