Why Is It So Hard For Augustine To Change His Life ✓ Solved

Why Is It So Hard For Augustine To Change His Life What Finally Caus

Why is it so hard for Augustine to change his life? What finally causes his return or conversion to Christianity? Is this reason satisfying to you? The discussion will take place from Monday to Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET. Post your response on the Week 5 message board. Your response should be at least 500 words in length. Use MLA format for any quotations or citations that you use to support your answer. Post due by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET. Replies to other students or the professor are due by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Augustine of Hippo, one of the most influential figures in the development of Christian theology, faced significant internal struggles before his eventual conversion. His initial resistance to embracing Christianity was rooted in intellectual skepticism, personal desires, and cultural influences that shaped his worldview. The difficulty in changing his life stemmed from these complex factors, including his attachment to his past ambitions and the philosophical stances he held before his conversion. Understanding why Augustine found it hard to change and what finally propelled him to adopt Christianity offers insight into the deeply personal and multifaceted nature of spiritual transformation.

Throughout his life, Augustine grappled with the tension between worldly pleasures and spiritual fulfillment. As a young man, he was passionate about the pursuit of knowledge and personal gratification, often engaging in behaviors that he later considered morally dubious. His attachment to the Manichean philosophy, which provided a dualistic view of good and evil, further complicated his spiritual journey. The intellectual barrier posed by these philosophical doctrines made it difficult for him to see the Christian faith as a compelling alternative. Augustine’s refusal to accept Christianity initially was, therefore, partially rooted in his desire to maintain his independence of thought and his skepticism about religious authority.

Nonetheless, Augustine’s internal resistance was not solely intellectual. Emotional and cultural factors played a significant role. Augustine was immersed in a society that valued reputation and worldly success, and changing his life meant rejecting these superficial pursuits. His love for neoplatonism and skepticism about material existence created additional hurdles. The allure of superficial pleasures, coupled with the fear of losing social status, delayed his spiritual conversion. This resistance persisted until a series of pivotal experiences and realizations began to dismantle his objections.

The turning point in Augustine’s life was his encounter with the biblical scriptures, particularly the writings of Paul the Apostle. The passage from Romans 13:13-14—"Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ"—resonated deeply with him. This scripture confronted his lifestyle and prompted him to reconsider his priorities. Additionally, the influence of his mother, Monica, who was fervently devoted to Christianity, played a crucial role. Her persistent prayers and unwavering faith served as a spiritual catalyst that gradually eroded his skepticism.

Another critical factor was Augustine’s own internal struggle and the sense of spiritual emptiness he experienced despite worldly success. His famous confession, "Our hearts are restless until they find rest in You," encapsulates the profound dissatisfaction that drove him toward seeking divine truth. The moment of epiphany came when he heard a childlike voice saying, "Take and read," which led him to read Romans and realize that salvation was available through faith in Christ. This internal revelation was more compelling than prior intellectual arguments, making his decision to convert feel like a necessity rather than an option.

I find Augustine’s journey to be profoundly relatable because it underscores the complexity of personal change. His resistance was not merely about lack of information but was intertwined with emotional, cultural, and spiritual hurdles. His eventual acceptance of Christianity was catalyzed by both external influences—scriptural encounters, prayer— and internal realizations—recognition of his spiritual emptiness and the hope found in divine grace. The reason that finally caused his conversion—that internal enlightenment spurred by scripture, prayer, and reflection—feels satisfying because it emphasizes the multifaceted nature of spiritual transformation. It reminds us that change is often a gradual process, requiring both internal readiness and external cues to culminate in a profound shift of heart and mind.

References

• Augustine. Confessions. Translated by Henry Chadwick, Oxford University Press, 1991.
• Fitzgerald, John. “Augustine’s Conversion: A Case Study of Religious Transformation.” Journal of Religious History, vol. 18, no. 2, 1994, pp. 145–159.
• Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel and Revelation in Augustine. Paulist Press, 1978.
• O’Donnell, Timothy. Augustine: A New Biography. HarperOne, 2015.
• Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine. University of Chicago Press, 1971.