Centered around a conversation between Augustine and his friend Evodius in during the reign of the Roman Empire‚ “On the Free Choice of the Will” is a philosophical discussion over God and evil with focus onto how evil is defined as well as how humanity’s freedom to make choices gives birth to malice. Augustine claims that God cannot be the cause of evil‚ an all powerful omnipotent and benevolent creator cannot create what is to be defined as evil. He supports his claim by examining how evil is defined
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Both Dante and Beowulf went through life changing journeys. However their end results where very different. Beowulf was warned about his prideful ways‚ but chose to ignore that warning and continued on the path that led to his death. For Dante‚ he heard the warning and took it with him through this journey in purgatory and was able to grow spiritually from it and came out truly enlightened. Both travelers struggled with some form of earthly sin that was hindering them in some aspect of their life
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These “cities” are symbols of the two spiritual powers‚ faith and unbelief. These two powers are inevitably intermingled on this earth and will remain so until the end of time‚ which according to Augustine is when the second coming of Christ transpires. Augustine was certain that all of humanity belongs to one of these contradictory cities. An individual lives according to man‚ or lives according to God‚ as Augustine wrote “one is predestined to reign eternally with God‚ and the other to suffer
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decline of the Roman Empire and the nascent era of the Medieval papacy in Rome‚ the Regula Sancti Benedicti (c. 540; Rule of Saint Benedict) outlines the ideals of life in a religious community of monks. It is known for its emphasis on compassion and spiritual counsel‚ and for its relative leniency in describing the requirements of monastic life—the precepts of the Rule notably contrast with those of the more austere Eastern monasticism and focus on sanctity‚ virtue‚ humility‚ and obedience rather than
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Augustine seems to have practically plagiarized Plato. Substitute "god" for "the good" and "the divine" for "the forms" and there you have it: Augustine’s philosophy. He even adopts the technique of argument by analogy from Plato. It is interesting to note the inconsistencies in Augustine’s own comparison to Platonic theory. Plato considered the forms to be the greater knowledge attainable only by philosophers and those with a truly rational soul. Thus‚ understanding of forms is a rational process
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Confessions of an Economic Hit man John Perkins The reasons as to why I selected this book was heavily weighted on my personal interests. The fact that I am interested in matters of economics‚ imperialism‚ capitalism and deception and corruption on a government level‚ made reviewing Confessions of an economic hit man an enjoyable experience. “For them‚ this is a war about the survival of their children and cultures‚ while for us it is about power‚ money and natural resources. It is one part
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For murder alone‚ Dante would have placed him among those who were Violent Against their Neighbors‚ leaving him to be submerged in boiling blood and shot by Centaurs until Judgement Day. However‚ he could also be placed among the Thieves‚ left to turn into a serpent then
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During Augustine’s lifetime‚ he converts to various religions in order to seek faith. Augustine was born into a Catholic house‚ where he finds flaws on Catholicism and begins to find other religions. He later converts to Manicheanism which makes his mother‚ Monica‚ upset. However‚ he ends up converting back to Catholicism. Faith seeking understanding means to Augustine is how a person is able to live in faith‚ then afterward they can understand life in a deeper meaning. Meaning that faith comes
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CONFESSIONS I am established in righteousness‚ and oppression is far from me (Isa. 54:14). I take the shield of faith‚ and I quench every fiery dart of the enemy (Eph. 6:16). I am redeemed from the curse of the law. I am redeemed from poverty. I am redeemed from sickness. I am redeemed from spiritual death (Gal. 3:13). I stand in the evil day having my loins girded about with truth‚ and I have the breastplate of righteousness. My feet are shod with the gospel of peace. I take the shield of faith
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According to Christianity‚ God is all good‚ omnipotent‚ omnipresent‚ and omniscient. So‚ why did this good God let there be evil (Augustine 121)? It starts with free will. God gave humans free will to love Him and to do good. According to the Adam and Eve story‚ Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit so that they could be like God. They were prideful and acted in a way that did not live up to their full potential for good and thus‚ there was evil. Now‚ that is not to say that Adam and Eve are
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