The Confessions Of Augustine (1860)

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Kessinger Publishing, 2008 - Biography & Autobiography - 460 pages
The Confessions of Augustine is a classic book written by Saint Augustine, a prominent theologian and philosopher of the fourth century. The book is an autobiographical account of Augustine's life, from his early childhood to his conversion to Christianity and his subsequent rise to become Bishop of Hippo. The Confessions is divided into 13 books, each of which explores different aspects of Augustine's life and spiritual journey. In the first book, Augustine reflects on his childhood and the influence of his mother, Monica, on his early religious beliefs. He then moves on to discuss his teenage years, during which he became increasingly interested in philosophy and began to question his faith. Throughout the book, Augustine grapples with the complexities of human nature and the struggle between the flesh and the spirit. He is candid about his own failings and sins, including his struggles with sexual desire and his involvement in the Manichaean heresy before his conversion to Christianity. The Confessions is also a meditation on the nature of God and the relationship between God and humanity. Augustine explores questions of free will, predestination, and the problem of evil, and his reflections on these topics have been influential in Christian theology for centuries. Overall, The Confessions of Augustine is a deeply personal and introspective work that offers insight into the life and beliefs of one of the most important figures in the history of Christianity. It is a powerful testament to the transformative power of faith and the human capacity for redemption.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

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About the author (2008)

Saint Augustine was born to a Catholic mother and a pagan father on November 13, 354, at Thagaste, near Algiers. He studied Latin literature and later taught rhetoric in Rome and Milan. He originally joined the Manicheans, a religious sect, but grew unhappy with some of their philosophies. After his conversion to Christianity and his baptism in 387, Augustine developed his own approach to philosophy and theology, accommodating a variety of methods and different perspectives. He believed that the grace of Christ was indispensable to human freedom, and he framed the concepts of original sin and just war. His thoughts greatly influenced the medieval worldview. One of Augustine's major goals was a single, unified church. He was ordained a priest in 391 and appointed Bishop of Hippo, in Roman Africa, in 396. Augustine was one of the most prolific Latin authors in terms of surviving works, and the list of his works consists of more than one hundred separate titles. His writings and arguments with other sects include the Donatists and the Pelagians. On the Trinity, The City of God, and On Nature and Grace are some of his important writings. Confessions, which is considered his masterpiece, is an autobiographical work that recounts his restless youth and details the spiritual experiences that led him to Christianity. Many of Augustine's ideas, such as those concerning sin and predestination, became integral to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. In the Catholic Church he is a saint and pre-eminent Doctor of the Church, and the patron of the Augustinians. He is the patron saint of brewers, printers, and theologians. Augustine died on August 28, 430.

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