Download Introduction to the World, Life and Thought of St. Augustine (A.D.

CVSP 205
March 14th, 2016
George Sabra
(1480)
St Augustine in his study by Sandro Boticelli
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Human happiness and dignity come from
obedience to the universal law.
“Nothing can be good for a man unless it
helps to make him just, self-disciplined,
courageous and independent; and nothing
bad unless it has the contrary effect.”
(Meditations Bk. 8)
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Mithraism (Mithras was a Persian and Indian
sun-god).
All creatures believed to have sprung from
the bull which Mithras slew before ascending
into heaven.
Initiation into its mysteries guaranteed a
member immortality and blessedness.
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Mani the prophet (ca. 216-276)
A combination of Oriental, Persian and
Christian ideas and teachings
Goal of religion: liberating man from the
chains of Satan and darkness which are
embedded in the physical world
A dualistic interpretation of ultimate reality
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One God: All-Good, All-Powerful
Creator out of Nothing
Jesus: the presence of God among human
beings; perfect man and perfect God.
Church: the community of believers in Jesus
New Testament: the memory of Jesus, his
words and deeds, and the early community’s
interpretation of his person and teachings
Trinity: One God in three real ways of being the
same God: Father/Creator – Son/Savior –
Spirit/Sanctifier
Mani the
prophet
Plato
Jesus the Christ
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Faith and Reason
Western Christian mysticism
Shaper of Catholicism and Protestantism
Doctrine of “original sin”
Synthesis of Plato and Christianity
Discoverer of the subconscious? Anticipates
Freud
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Books I-IX: a form of autobiography until
his mother’s death.
X-XIII: Augustine as expositor of the
Bible; Neoplatonic analysis of
memory, time, creation,
exegesis of Genesis I