Essay on Saint Augustine of Hippo - 810 Words

As one of the most prominent figures of the early church, Saint Augustine is not only recognized for his leadership but also for his knowledge and influence on the thinking and doctrine of the Christian Church. As a priest, he was an important leader of the early African Church; as a philosopher, he brought a new approach to Church Doctrine through the ideas of pagan philosophy (TeSelle 892). These accomplishments put him among the ranks of Thomas Aquinas and other great Church philosophers whose ideas revolutionized the Church. Because of his accomplishments and influence, Augustine was named a Doctor of the Church. Aurilius Augustine was born in Tagaste in 354 A.D. to a pagan father and a saintly mother. His father, although poor and†¦show more content†¦This duelist sect believed in the Devine God who was the embodiment of everything good and an equal evil power. They also believed that the flesh was inherently evil. In the next few years after settling his beliefs with M anechaeism and realizing its faults, Augustine would fall into believing in several other non-Christian movements (Brown 31). After being encouraged to do so by many of his friends, he read many of the writings of the Greek philosophers known as neoplatonists. Along with the sermons of Saint Ambrose, the bishop of Milan, these writings convinced Augustine to contemplate his return to the Christian faith. Eventually he overcame his numerous encounters with heresy, and was baptized into the Catholic Church in the year 387 (Brown 43). From this point on, Augustine became a great leader in the Church, eventually becoming bishop o Hippo. After the death of his mother, Monica, Augustine moved back to his Africa where he entered the monastic life and started a monastery (TeSelle 892). He soon joined the priesthood, and after only four years the people of Hippo elected him to be their bishop (Brown 78). At this point in his life, Augustine is recognized for doing many things for the Chur ch as a priest, author, and defender of faith. As an author he wrote Confessions, his spiritual autobiography, and City of God, his great work describing the Christian philosophy throughout history. In this magnificent work,Show MoreRelatedSaint Augustine Of Hippo And Saint Thomas Aquinas1590 Words   |  7 Pageshave transformed, faded, and attempted to bring concrete answers to questions regarding human life. Saint Augustine of Hippo and Saint Thomas Aquinas are considered to be the greatest of their times, and are influential in understanding current Christian Church teachings along with philosophical teachings in general. The keystone work of Saint Augustine must be his very personal Confessions while Saint Thomas Aquinas’s keystone work must be his renowned Summa Theologiae. These two works are regardedRead MoreBiography Of Saint Augustine Of Hippo1163 Words   |  5 PagesSaint Augustine of Hippo lived his life always striving to excel in whatever he did. His accompli shments are woven into today’s society as his influence was one of the most powerful. A man of such importance that his thoughts influenced the way people of his time and people today think and perceive the world. He is known as being one of the most important people involved in the development of Western Christianity. Born as Aurelius Augustinus on November 13th, 354 in what is present day Tagaste, heRead MoreSaint Augustine Of Hippo Once Stated1247 Words   |  5 PagesSaint Augustine of Hippo once stated, â€Å"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.† It was after stumbling across this statement that I was influenced to call up my friend and suggest a road trip. When we started off, it was a beautiful day. The bright morning sun peeked over the Appalachian mountains to bid us farewell as we packed our belongings into the 2011 Chevy Cruze. Dew still perched on the delicate leaves of various summer flowers while we rode down the road towardsRead MoreThe Hero and the Saint: Paul and Augustine656 Words   |  3 PagesThe Hero and the Saint: Paul and Augustine The idea of the hero in Greco-Roman culture was integrated into the idea of the saint (in the process of conversion and totalization) by way of Christianitys adoption of and ancestry in the Greco-Roman culture. As Professor Ambrosio indicates, The need and the search for meaning is shared by all human beings (Hero or Saint Saul of Tarsus). Thus, it is no surprise to find that a pagan Greco-Roman title is applicable to a Christian whose virtue is viewedRead MoreSt. Augustine s Life1283 Words   |  6 PagesMany saints were first some of the most frequent sinners. How could a leopard rub off all of his spots? Can people truly change their ways? Stories of conversion may seem unlikely, but for some they are pure fact. One of the most renowned stories of conversion is the one of Saint Augustine. Saint Augustine of Hippo by his own omission started his life in a circle of lust, pride, and vanity. He says in his book Confessions, â€Å"here proud, there superstitious, everywhere va in.† Saint Augustine’sRead MoreAnalysis Of Aurelius Augustine : A Treatise On The Gift Of Perseverance786 Words   |  4 PagesIn an attempt to refute the views of a theologian named Pelagius, Aurelius Augustine published a work entitled â€Å"A Treatise on the Gift of Perseverance†, and in this work he explains a view on the gift of perseverance that is not fully in line with what scripture teaches. First I will describe Augustines ideals and stance on Perseverance of the Saints. I will continue by describing that his stance on this topic matter is not entirely coherent with scripture, and then show the overall result his doctrineRead MoreEssay on Saint Augustine970 Words   |  4 Pages Saint Augustine was born on 354 CE in Tagaste, Africa. His given name was Aurelius Augustinus. His father was Patricius, a pagan who was baptized Christian before he died, and his mother was Monica, a baptized Christian with an influential role in the life of her son. Augustine is regarded as one of the most intelligent Christian theologians and bishops of all time. His works and actions have left a major imprint on the Church and its doctrine. As a boy, Augustine was not baptized andRead MoreSt. Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Theologian Essay1693 Words   |  7 Pages St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, was one of the greatest theologians of his time. He is still regarded in the highest manner. He was raised in a divided home, but through time he found the truth. He was always a superb student. He fully mastered Latin; however, he never grasped Greek. He was also very crafty in speech - a black-belt of rhetoric if you will. After his teenage flings and rebellions, he found a heretical sect in which he became involved for a while. He traveled and landedRead MoreSaint Augustine Essays719 Words   |  3 PagesSaint Augustine Saint Augustine, b. Nov. 13, 354, d. Aug. 28, 430, was one of the foremost philosopher-theologians of early Christianity and, while serving (396-430) as bishop of Hippo Regius, the leading figure in the church of North Africa. He had a profound influence on the subsequent development of Western thought and culture and, more than any other person, shaped the themes and defined the problems that have characterized the Western tradition of Christian Theology. Among his many writingsRead MoreEssay about St. Augustine916 Words   |  4 Pages Saint Augustine of Hippo Theologians, Biblical scholars and Christians all over the world often wrestle with two extremely important questions about their faith. These questions are, quot;What is God like?quot; and quot;How should we live in response to God?quot; Some feel that we need others to direct us, some feel we need them to challenge us, but everyone agrees that we need others. That is exactly how Saint Augustine struggles to find his faith and beliefs. He found it extremely difficult