Augustine Of Hippo Research Paper

Saint Augustine of Hippo was viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers in Western Christianity whose writings and teachings influenced the development of western Christianity. Augustine was born in Roman, Africa and was raised by his Mother who was a devout Christian and Father a Pagan who converted to Christianity when baptized on his deathbed. At a young age Augustine was the first and only one in his siblings sent off to be educated. While being educated he became familiar with Latin as well as pagan beliefs. Later in his education Augustine went to Carthage to continue his education in rhetoric, which sparked his interest in philosophy. Although he was raised catholic by his mother, as Augustine got older he left the Catholic Church …show more content…
He says “the devil would not have ensnared man in open sin of disobedience if man had not already begun to please himself in pride” (Augustine, 98) Adam and Eve didn’t choose the true object that they desired, God, but choose to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. They had “become inevitably self-centered, their will being ‘curved’ back on itself.” (Rist, 148) Their desires were not focused toward God, which caused them to falter. God wouldn’t have allowed the devil to so easily deceive them but they were already becoming prideful. By craving to be more, man becomes less; and by aspiring to be self-sufficing, he fell away from Him who truly suffices him. (Augustine, The City of God, Article from class) Augustine reminds us that when one forgets where creation comes from and prioritizes them over God, they misuse their experiences and live for there own selfish reasons and not for God. This is exactly what happened to Adam and Eve, their own pride and selfishness got in the way of what they truly