In the Confessions, Saint Augustine addressed himself articulately and passionately to the persistent questions that stirred the minds and hearts of men since time began. What is a sin, and where does evil come from? After wrestling with these questions for an entire lifetime, Saint Augustine concluded upon a very discernable notion on what sin was. The concept of sin and evil is laced throughout the entire book of Confessions. It was not created by God, conversely, sin is nothingness. According to St. Augustine, sin comes via free-will. .
Saint Augustine argues that sin is the result "of a more freely chosen sin, because I was a son of Adam." (VIII, x, pg 149). Sin also arises from two conflicting wills found inside of humans. "So there are two wills." (VIII, ix, pg 148) Following one path of will, can lead man to righteousness; while at the same time, going in the other direction will lead a man to evil and sin. The latter is the will which the common man abides by. Early on in Saint Augustine's life, he followed the same evil will inherent in humans. It is the will more commonly associated with physical pleasures. As Augustine grew older and wiser, he began to listen to the virtuous will. He began to be more adhering to God's spoken laws. However, Augustine regrets sinful acts which he committed early on in his life.
In Saint Augustine Confession's, Augustine believes he stole the fruit for the mere enjoyment of the sin and the theft which the stealing involved. He says "Now let my heart tell you what it was seeking there in that I became evil for no reason. I had no motive for my wickedness except wickedness itself. It was foul, and I loved it." (II, iv, pg 29) Augustine knew exactly what he was doing at the time of the crime, but he did not care to think about the outcome of his actions. Augustine only cared that the deed which he participated in was undeniably forbidden.
Aurelius Augustine, later known as Augustine of Hippo or Saint Augustine, was one of the most important and well-known theologians in the history of the Christian religion. He was born on November 13, 354 AD, in Roman Empire and died on August 28, 430 AD, in Hippo Regius, Algeria. He was born as a ...
What is Evil? From an explanation that that was given to St. Augustine, "the cause of evil is the free decision of our will, in consequence of which we act wrongly" (pg 161). In other words the decision of our will is that we make our own decisions and our destiny is what we make of it. In l...
Evil Cannot Exist. St. Augustine was one of the most influential Christian converts of his time. In his book, The Confessions, he described his life and journey towards converting to Christianity. He addressed many of the issues that arise from infancy to adolescence to adulthood. In each phase of...
St Augustine had similar beliefs as Plato. ... Augustine states that "one must believe in order to understand." ... So what Augustine is saying is that we shall love all things even if the seem to be evil, because they to severe a purpose in life. ...
Saint Augustine and Classical Education In Saint Augustine's deeply personal work, Confessions, he shares the story of his life up to his eventual conversion to the Christian faith. ... Augustine's attitude towards classical literature and thought was at times slightly self-contradictory. ... Augustine recalled that as a very young man he himself succumbed to excessive pride. ... Augustine was a rationalist man throughout the work, and yet his most defining moment is one of pure faith. Only after years of personal struggle did Augustine arrive at his own religious revelation. ...
St. Thomas Aquinas supports and accepts the notion of Augustine that evil is not something positive and God is not the cause of evil, because evil is not a thing. His whole answer on the problem of evil is related to God. St. Thomas Aquinas believes God did not will moral evil in any sense but only...
St. Augustine: The City of God According to St. Augustine, there have been many people and events that have helped in the establishment of philosophy and natural theology. He mentions many great thinkers before him that have contributed, such as Thales of Miletus along with his disciples Anaxim...
The Confessions of St. Augustine was not, as some scholars have claimed, the work of a weak-willed or self-indulgent man. Rather, it was the work of a very determined and self-sacrificing individual who was looking back into his sinful past. When Augustine wrote the Confessions he had already been a...
