Augustine

Augustine 

• Early life 

Augustine's early life was profoundly influenced his later beliefs. His book 'Confessions' decribes his earlier life and how sinful and full of lust he was. He turned to manchaeism which is a relious group that took influence from Plato's earlier beliefs i.e there is a perfect world of forms and the world we live in is imperfect and doesn't compare to the world of forms. However, Augustine wanted to know more about the why there is evil in the world and as result turned to christianity. He came to the conclusion that evil was an absense of good. This would mean God is not to blame for the evil in the world. 

• The fall 

The fall refers to the act of Adam and Eve eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the book of genesis, the old testament. This act was seen as so wrong as God had directly told them not to be tempted and eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. However, Eve was tempted by the serpent (the devil) and told Adam to eat too. This act of disobeying God had meant that a sin was placed on the whole of humanity. 

• The original sin 

The original sin refers to the consequences of the fall. For example, Adam will have to work for survival of him and his family, Eve will feel pain during childbirth. Another being that they will feel a sinful lust for eachother also known as concupiscience. 'Their eyes were opened, they realised they were naked…