Faith and reason According to Augustine, bishop of Hippo, faith and reason were necessarily related, because Christians were called not only to believe, but they were called to believe in order that they might understand.

Augustine of Hippo (Saint Augustine) Augustine of Hippo (Saint Augustine)

Augustine’s background: grew up in a religiously mixed family. His mother was a Christian while his father was a pagan. grew up in a religiously mixed family. His mother was a Christian while his father was a pagan. Later he experienced dramatic conversion and was baptized in a Christian church of Milan. Later he experienced dramatic conversion and was baptized in a Christian church of Milan. Studied rhetoric, and later became a professor of it. Studied rhetoric, and later became a professor of it. Retired and devoted himself to philosophical reflection on divine wisdom. Retired and devoted himself to philosophical reflection on divine wisdom.

At first, Augustine was attracted to the teachings of Mani, a prophet who proclaimed a dualism of good and evil, of light and darkness and of two gods, the evil and the good god. At first, Augustine was attracted to the teachings of Mani, a prophet who proclaimed a dualism of good and evil, of light and darkness and of two gods, the evil and the good god. However, after being a nine year hearer, he found out that the teachings only encouraged a false pride. However, after being a nine year hearer, he found out that the teachings only encouraged a false pride. Throughout his life, Augustine struggled to reconcile the light of reason with the demands of faith in Christ, the Word of God, the light of the world. Throughout his life, Augustine struggled to reconcile the light of reason with the demands of faith in Christ, the Word of God, the light of the world.

However, after being a nine year hearer, he found out that the teachings only encouraged a false pride. However, after being a nine year hearer, he found out that the teachings only encouraged a false pride. Throughout his life, Augustine struggled to reconcile the light of reason with the demands of faith in Christ, the Word of God, the light of the world. Throughout his life, Augustine struggled to reconcile the light of reason with the demands of faith in Christ, the Word of God, the light of the world.

Christ, The Truth Christ, The Truth After that Augustine joined a group of mostly pagan intellectuals and a few Christians under the leading of Plotinus to recover the wisdom in the philosophy of Plato. Here, Augustine found that the Platonic logos was the same Word of God that the Gospel of John had proclaimed. Adopted a biblical passage that captures the relation between faith and reason “unless you believe you will not understand” (Isa 7: 9).

The City of God: A book written by Augustine on the occasion of turmoil surrounding incursion of the Goths, the “barbarians” from the north had sacked Rome. Pagans blamed Christians and Christians blamed pagans for the disaster. A book written by Augustine on the occasion of turmoil surrounding incursion of the Goths, the “barbarians” from the north had sacked Rome. Pagans blamed Christians and Christians blamed pagans for the disaster. Augustine developed an alternative history in terms of two cities, earthly and heavenly. Augustine developed an alternative history in terms of two cities, earthly and heavenly. He interpreted the disaster as a symptom of the suffering endemic to the human condition He interpreted the disaster as a symptom of the suffering endemic to the human condition

The two cities originated from two desires, the desire for the spirit and the desire for the flesh. The two cities originated from two desires, the desire for the spirit and the desire for the flesh. They somehow became mixed in the world when the city of God wandered through the world for those who directed their desire toward God. and in the end, the city of God would emerge from its wandering to reign supreme. They somehow became mixed in the world when the city of God wandered through the world for those who directed their desire toward God. and in the end, the city of God would emerge from its wandering to reign supreme. Only the grace of God could bring human into the City of God. Only the grace of God could bring human into the City of God.

The gift of grace: Pelagians: Human beings: good, able to avoid sins and live according to the moral precepts of faith and by the free will can choose the right path. Scripture cited: “be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt 5: 48). No need the grace of God. Pelagians: Human beings: good, able to avoid sins and live according to the moral precepts of faith and by the free will can choose the right path. Scripture cited: “be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt 5: 48). No need the grace of God. Augustine concluded that the mysterious gift of grace was the foundation of Christian faith. Augustine concluded that the mysterious gift of grace was the foundation of Christian faith..

He was convinced strongly that human nature was irrecoverably damaged and only a supernatural gift of healing could enable recovery. Scripture backup: “What have you that you did not receive from God” (I Cor 4: 7). The God of Augustine’s Christian faith was all good and all powerful

Mani’s supreme God was good but not all- powerful (constrained by evil god) Mani’s supreme God was good but not all- powerful (constrained by evil god) Plotinus’ supreme God was good and even supreme Good, but not all powerful (human ignorance). Plotinus’ supreme God was good and even supreme Good, but not all powerful (human ignorance). Augustine determined that neither faith nor reason was sufficient. Everything depended upon the supreme power of God.

Power By the end of the fourth century, the Christian religion had achieved unprecedented power in the Roman Empire and become the official religion of the empire. By the end of the fourth century, the Christian religion had achieved unprecedented power in the Roman Empire and become the official religion of the empire. The spiritual power of the church intersected with the political power of the Roman state. The spiritual power of the church intersected with the political power of the Roman state. The power of the church was consolidated by prescribing uniformity of doctrine and practice within the domain of Christianity. The power of the church was consolidated by prescribing uniformity of doctrine and practice within the domain of Christianity.

The rule of the church In addressing the territorial authority of the church, the bishop introduced an agreement that affirmed that the city should be elevated to a new status. In addressing the territorial authority of the church, the bishop introduced an agreement that affirmed that the city should be elevated to a new status. The rule of the church depended upon finding and holding the middle ground among different ideas of different groups. The rule of the church depended upon finding and holding the middle ground among different ideas of different groups.

Five cities represented the power of the Christian world: Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem. Five cities represented the power of the Christian world: Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem. The rule of the church depended upon the identification, suppression and excommunication of heretics. The rule of the church depended upon the identification, suppression and excommunication of heretics.

The prospect of hell From the beginning, hell represented the ultimate exclusion from the kingdom of God. Tertullian imagined a location just above hell— the bosom of Abraham or refrigerium —an interim place of refreshment for the righteous while waited for the resurrection.

The imagery of purifying fire became a dominant feature of Christian reflection on life after death. Out of this imagery of refining fire, there was a special location—purgatory—in which Christian souls underwent suffering in preparation for heaven. Out of this imagery of refining fire, there was a special location—purgatory—in which Christian souls underwent suffering in preparation for heaven.

The promise of heaven Early Christians imagined heaven as both a world above and a world of the future, in terms of urban order, governance, and political power. In heaven, first, Christians would be transformed into immortal beings. Second, they would meet with their loved ones. Third, heaven promised an ultimate deification of human being. Jesus Christ became human so humans could become divine.

Questions Questions 1. Does the church really need power (spiritual power and political power) to rule? Give reasons. 2. For you, what is the relation between faith and reason? 3. Is hell a place of temporary or permanent torture? 4. Can people from other religions go to heaven?