Augustine's Treatment of God in the Confessions . In one way or another, human beings attempt to grasp the ultimate reality of things, that is, the composition of the universe, its purpose, purpose, etc. At some point, their painstaking search somehow leads them to a reality that, or Who, may possibly be the definitive, decisive, relational, communicative factor of everything "under the sun." This quest for the Absolute has taken many forms. Divine revelations, such as those received by the hagiographers of the Bible, are a perfect example; it is the process by which the Absolute reveals itself to people in its unique way. But this is an insufficient means, because we are not obliged to believe in such phenomena; we can still doubt it. Another example would be legends or myths, such as Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. These facts have been passed down through tradition and poetry, as in the stories of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. But this is yet another inadequate path, because legends and myths do not necessarily mean they are true. Perhaps the most effective way to reach the Undoubted and the Immutable is to do philosophy. Originally aiming at a rationalization of early Greek religion and mythology, philosophy gradually changed its course towards certain areas of human existence and objective subjects, viz. reason and the senses as discussed by Aristotle in On the Soul, Plato's view of the Good and social classes in the Republic, and everything else. Now, when Christianity came on the scene, the pendulum once again swung the philosophy's attention away from the centrality of the human person and toward the Absolute. And this is us...... middle of paper ...... y first chapter of Confessions, once again I would quote: "you made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until may he rest in you.” In conclusion, there is this transition from the status of condiment to that of ingredient. It was Augustine's great error to have underestimated God; sooner or later he realized that He is the One, and the Only One, Who would complete him.SOURCES:__________. (1994). Catechism of the Catholic Church. Word and Life Publications. Makati. 828 pages__________. (2006). THE HOLY BIBLE: New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition. St. Paul. Makati. 1496 pages. Chadwick, H. (1991). Saint Augustine: Confessions. Oxford University Press. England. 311 pages. Fieser, J. (2009). The History of Philosophy: A Brief Survey. Retrieved from www.utm.edu/staff/jfieser/110.Gibson, E. (1941). God and philosophy. Yale University Press. Connecticut.

Essay / Augustine's Treatment of God in the Confessions . In one way or another, human beings attempt to grasp the ultimate reality of things, that is, the composition of the universe, its purpose, purpose, etc. At some point, their painstaking search somehow leads them to a reality that, or Who, may possibly be the definitive, decisive, relational, communicative factor of everything "under the sun." This quest for the Absolute has taken many forms. Divine revelations, such as those received by the hagiographers of the Bible, are a perfect example; it is the process by which the Absolute reveals itself to people in its unique way. But this is an insufficient means, because we are not obliged to believe in such phenomena; we can still doubt it. Another example would be legends or myths, such as Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. These facts have been passed down through tradition and poetry, as in the stories of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. But this is yet another inadequate path, because legends and myths do not necessarily mean they are true. Perhaps the most effective way to reach the Undoubted and the Immutable is to do philosophy. Originally aiming at a rationalization of early Greek religion and mythology, philosophy gradually changed its course towards certain areas of human existence and objective subjects, viz. reason and the senses as discussed by Aristotle in On the Soul, Plato's view of the Good and social classes in the Republic, and everything else. Now, when Christianity came on the scene, the pendulum once again swung the philosophy's attention away from the centrality of the human person and toward the Absolute. And this is us...... middle of paper ...... y first chapter of Confessions, once again I would quote: "you made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until may he rest in you.” In conclusion, there is this transition from the status of condiment to that of ingredient. It was Augustine's great error to have underestimated God; sooner or later he realized that He is the One, and the Only One, Who would complete him.SOURCES:__________. (1994). Catechism of the Catholic Church. Word and Life Publications. Makati. 828 pages__________. (2006). THE HOLY BIBLE: New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition. St. Paul. Makati. 1496 pages. Chadwick, H. (1991). Saint Augustine: Confessions. Oxford University Press. England. 311 pages. Fieser, J. (2009). The History of Philosophy: A Brief Survey. Retrieved from www.utm.edu/staff/jfieser/110.Gibson, E. (1941). God and philosophy. Yale University Press. Connecticut.

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