Augustine: Confessions Books 7-9

How does Augustine perceive God?

"I no longer thought of thee, O God, by the analogy of a human body" "I believed thou art incorruptible and inviolable and unchangeable" thought of God as "stretched out through infinite space" "I was constrained to conceive thee to be some kind of body in space, either infused into the world, or indefinitely diffused beyond the world" "I believed thee to be most just" • He no longer views God as an image • God is pure and light, he is the pinnacle of the scale of beings • God is the source of existence of being for all other life forms • Neo-Platonic idea, God as a light and supreme being • All creations are connected in some way to God, God is what provides stability and thus peace ○ We reach beatitude when we die and join God ○ No one on Earth is happy, even if they appear happy ○ Everything that exists has being and has a relationship with God

How is God's light different from than a visual kind of light?

- light of truth, pleasures virtuous people and pains bad ones, light of eternal life, immutable life, light of the soul, of within --> you cannot see it --> the light that god uses to make lives of men

Is Augustine upset by the deaths of those he loves? Why or why not?

-No, because he believes they now rest in eternal happiness in the kingdom of God. -while death is the end of an old life, it is the beginning life with God -this life with God is our ultimate aim - still feels a great amount of pain, but is able to deal with it

Why are corruptible things good?

Because in order for something to be corrupted, it must have been initially good. Thus there is still some good in the thing. - if something were to be deprived of all good it would cease to exist

What is the only natural desire of mankind?

Desire for material things and pleasure? (sexual)

Is Augustine ever able to give an accurate description of God and what He is like?

God is the creator of all things

How does Augustine believe that he obtains his own knowledge of everything in the world?

He believes that all knowledge comes from God, who is the creator of everything

In what ways does Augustine connect with God in book IX?

He connects to God through reflection; writing and engaging in dialogue with other intellects all with the purpose of being "devoted to thy service" (136)

Who is the Mediator between God and man?

Jesus Christ

What are some descriptions Augustine uses to describe and create an image of God?

Just like the air above the earth doesn't block the sun's light, and the sun's light penetrates and fills the body of air entirely, the heaven and earth are open to God and all things would be full in God (98) Described God as an infinite sea that was everywhere though measureless space, and all of creation as an gigantic, finite sponge that was completely filled with the immeasurable sea (101)

How does Augustine introduce evil?

ORIGINALLY, EVIL IS A DARK, CORRUPTIVE FORCE THAT HAS TO BE FOUGHT WITH GOD'S HELP • Evil is turning your back on God, it is the absence of God • There is no actual evil force, there is only "evil" when God is not present, or only a small sliver of God • Evil is a diminishing of being, Confessions is the example of someone who was a sinner and able to convert to be a citizen in the city of God

What is it that allows a man to turn away from God?

body is corrupt and presses down the soul earthly dwellings weigh down the mind

Why does St. Augustine admire his mother?

created by god / god spoke through her she taught self-control (was able to control selfish human tendencies) she served her husband patiently and prayed (even through infidelity and abuse) gentle towards her family and friends was a peacemaker brought up her children in the light of god

Explain the paradox and the will argument in chapter eight?

he knows that his habit is a sin, and holding him back, but is unable to make the change to convert to God at this moment In 8, he is angry that he cannot enter God's will even though he so desperately wants to. Isn't the way to the reach the goal simply just "the will to go? But it must be a strong and single will." (127) During this frustration he makes motions with his body, like tearing his tear, clasping his knee, and points out that "these I did because I willed it. But I might have willed and still not have done it, if the nerves had not obeyed my will" He can do these gestures because his limbs are allowing him to do so; so the question is why is he unable to will his mind to adhere to his desire to convert? He ultimately comes to the conclusion that in converting to God, "he would will with a single will. For in this, the power of willing is the power of doing." "The mind commands the body, and the body obeys. The mind commands itself and is resisted." → compare it to the will: The will commands itself to will, and could not give the command unless it wills; yet what is commanded is not done. But actually the will does not will entirely; therefore it does not command entirely." (127) Therefore, Augustine states that "if the will were whole and entire, it would not even command it to be, because it would already be." (128). Our mind struggles to be controlled because of the two contrasting wills that are within us: one that is willing and one that is unwilling "I neither willed with my whole will nor was I wholly unwilling. And so I was at war with myself and torn apart by myself." (128). When all wills are good, they will go forward on a single, undivided track

What degree of respect does Augustine have for God?

high respect for God, who despite never departing from us, gives us a difficult, yet rewarding journey, to return to thee

How is the theme of isolation manifest in Book IX?

leaves his job in public office to pursue christianity BUT is criticized because he does not immediately jump into it after his conversion

What is Monica's attitude toward her impending death? Why does she feel this way?

she was accepting of it because she felt she had done all she needed to on earth She embraces her death because she believes in the fullness of her life in the kingdom of God She didn't care where she's buried because her true resting place is with God

Who does Augustine contrast himself with and why does he not want chastity yet?

• Contrasts himself with the two officials converted by the Life of St. Antony ○ The two men are presented with a book that vastly changes their life and way of thinking They almost instantly give up their worldly lives to become monks ○ Ever since he read Hortensius he has thought of giving up the bodily pleasures but he is still unable to do so, and yet it took the two men in Life of St. Antony a matter of moments after reading the knowledge that they needed to come to God ○ Augustine says that God also put information right in front of Augustine to change his life like the book did with the two men, but even then Augustine still refused ○ The more Augustine compared himself to them the more he felt that he could not be compared to them • He was afraid that God would hear his prayer too soon and would heal him from the disease of lust, which he wanted satisfied rather than extinguished ○ He still had not fully gotten rid of his desire for bodily pleasures He compares himself to a man who is asleep and wants to wake up, but "who is still overpowered with drowsiness and falls back into deep slumber" (122). Augustine states that even though no man wants to sleep forever, they are often glad to sleep on "even when his reason disapproves"

What is the significance of sin?

• Sin pulls us away from God and away from gazing solely in God - turns our back towards God sin is caused by human will

How many wills does Augustine say he has? Identify them.

• Two wills - tearing his soul apart ○ One carnal (old) --> not resisted, became necessity ○ One spiritual (new) • They were in conflict, one knew that he should turn himself to God, but the other wanted to keep with the bodily pleasures that came from the earthly city • Augustine remained attached to the beauty of material things and pleasure, though he felt that this was no longer him • However he later dismisses this as he believes it is to be to Manichean, and saying you have another will is simply deflecting blame

What does Augustine do that helps him immediately convert?

• While he is so stricken trying to will himself, (solitude under a fig tree) he hears a child say pick up in read over and over • Augustine picks up the bible and reads an excerpt from indecencies, a command to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in lusts This is enough to push Augustine to convert