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| | == Books == | | == Books == |
| | Augustine's writing is hailed as marking the beginning of the modern literary tradition, with its self-critical and deeply analytical subjects. His most noted works are listed below. | | Augustine's writing is hailed as marking the beginning of the modern literary tradition, with its self-critical and deeply analytical subjects. His most noted works are listed below. |
| − | # '''''[[Confessions]]''''', describing Augustine's travels from a member of the [[polytheistic]] Roman [[intelligentsia]] to a devoted Christian. Augustine examines his own personal failings in life, from his love life to his own moral shortcomings, before rejoicing in his [[salvation]] through Christ, which he struggled to attain, leading to a climactic [[epiphany]] resulting in his conversion. It is the first book to deeply consider the inner workings of the author's mind. | + | # '''''[[Confessions]]''''', describing Augustine's travels from a member of the [[polytheistic]] Roman intelligentsia to a devoted Christian. Augustine examines his own personal failings in life, from his love life to his own moral shortcomings, before rejoicing in his [[salvation]] through Christ, which he struggled to attain, leading to a climactic [[epiphany]] resulting in his conversion. It is the first book to deeply consider the inner workings of the author's mind. |
| − | #'''''[[City of God]]''''' (''De Civitate Dei''), written in the aftermath of the sack of [[Rome]] by [[Alaric the Visigoth]], Augustine wrote ''City of God'' to answer the question of the day - if Rome had been the City of God, and now it had fallen, what's to become of [[Christianity]]? So central was the safety of Rome to all philosophies, that this was a concern at the time. Augustine dispels the fears of Christians in this work by reminding them that the true City of God (in the minds of the faithful) is ever-present, and can never be destroyed. | + | #'''''City of God''''' (''De Civitate Dei''), written in the aftermath of the sack of [[Rome]] by [[Alaric the Visigoth]], Augustine wrote ''City of God'' to answer the question of the day - if Rome had been the City of God, and now it had fallen, what's to become of [[Christianity]]? So central was the safety of Rome to all philosophies, that this was a concern at the time. Augustine dispels the fears of Christians in this work by reminding them that the true City of God (in the minds of the faithful) is ever-present, and can never be destroyed. |
| − | #'''''[[On Christian Doctrine]]''''' (''De Doctrina Christiana''), written in the twilight of Augustine's life, in which Augustine explains how he has approached the [[Bible]] as the word of God. Augustine somberly reflects that his mind - or indeed, the mind of any mortal man - can never fully understand God's word, since it is too beautiful, complex, and rich to be completely understood by a feeble human mind. In this sense, Augustine carries some trace of [[Plato]] into [[Christianity]]. Augustine describes 7 levels of Biblical [[exegesis]], the last being almost unattainable, and self-critically remarks that even in a life of study he has barely reached the 5th. To Augustine, literalism was the 1st level of exegesis - shallow and unsearching. | + | #'''''On Christian Doctrine''''' (''De Doctrina Christiana''), written in the twilight of Augustine's life, in which Augustine explains how he has approached the [[Bible]] as the word of God. Augustine somberly reflects that his mind - or indeed, the mind of any mortal man - can never fully understand God's word, since it is too beautiful, complex, and rich to be completely understood by a feeble human mind. In this sense, Augustine carries some trace of [[Plato]] into [[Christianity]]. Augustine describes 7 levels of Biblical [[exegesis]], the last being almost unattainable, and self-critically remarks that even in a life of study he has barely reached the 5th. To Augustine, literalism was the 1st level of exegesis - shallow and unsearching. |
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| | == Notable quotes == | | == Notable quotes == |