Lecture 28.The
Experience of Augustine
I. Aurelius
Augustinus (354-430)
A.
Family of Moderate means
Born
354 to Patricius and Monica in Thagaste (North Africa)
Education:Madauros
then Carthage
B.
Growing Pains
Friends;
Rowdiness (Pear Stealing)
Sex:unnamed
concubine; son = Adeodatus (given by God)
C.
Spirituality:
Cicero’s
Hortensius
(call to philosophy)
Manichaeism
(c. 375-384):Hearer, not Elect
Astrology:all
controlled by Fate
D.
Career
Carthage
>> Rome >> Milan (recommended by Symmachus = pagan)
Encounter
with Bp. Ambrose:Study
of Neoplatonism
E.
Conversion in Milan (386-387):“Take
up and read!”
F.
Cleric
Ascetic
solitude outside Milan
Move
back to Africa (388):“Servant of
God”
Conscripted
as Priest >> Bishop of Hippo (395-430)
Writings:physical
love only for procreation; sin = absence of good; free will; grace
II. Christianizing
the West
A.
Political Fragmentation
Vandals
invade across Rhine, take over Africa (430s)
Visigoths
take western Gaul (418) the Spain
Burgundians
take eastern Gaul; Franks Northern Gaul
Rome
and Italy fall 476
B.
Converting the Barbarian
Cities
and urban Aristocracies survive
Church
thrives in absence of State
Conversion
of Visigoths (370s); Burgundians (430s); Franks (480s)
Patrick
in Ireland (420s); Charlemagne with the Saxons (c. 800)
III. Christianizing
the East
A.
Political Unity / Ecclesiastical Fragmentation
Barbarian
invasions less intense
Varieties
of Xianity:Monophysites in Egypt,
Syria; separate languages
B.
Spreading the Word
Armenia
and Georgia (300-330); Ethiopia (340s); Arabia (370s)
