The Confessions of St. Augustus Essay Example

Saint Augustine was born to a pagan father and a Christian mother. He lived a life of immorality until his early thirties when he suddenly took a new path that would eventually lead to his canonization. According to Augustine he grew up in a life of sin. Though raised as a Christian he did not fully accept the faith that was taught to him by his mother. Instead, during his education, he became fascinated with the writings of the great philosophers such as Plato. The ideas expressed in the writings of the great philosophers, such as Platonism and stoicism, would leave a lasting impact on Augustine. After being sent to study in Carthage he became influenced by the Manichean religion and converted to their ways. The views of the Manicheans would hold sway with Augustine for sometime but would eventually be rejected by the time of his conversion. After a long struggle with the demons of his youth he converted back to Chrisianity. In 387 A.D., at the age of 32, he was baptized and began to feel like all his misdeeds had been washed away. After his conversion he returned to Africa where after gaining a reputation as a holy man he would be ordained a priest and eventually be chosen as bishop of Hippo. Augustine went to become a celebrated author of the Christian Church and to compose many writings on both Christian theology and philosophy. The Confessions of Saint Augustine is an autobiographical tale in which Saint Augustine tells the story of his life through the view of a devout convert. Whether as a conversionary tactic or simply as a result of the impressions he absorbed while receiving his education, Saint Augustine's incorporation of both Stoicism and Platonism into his Confessions bridged the gap between Classical culture and Christianity. Throughout the Confessions of Saint Augustine there is great allusion toward Platonist ideals, especially that of dual realities and the concept of a higher, more absolute reality. According to Platonists there is the reality