AUGUSTINE - THE SEARCH

<BODY> <CENTER><FONT SIZE=5><B><FONT SIZE=6>AUGUSTINE</FONT><BR> THE CONVERTED CONVERTER</B></FONT></CENTER><P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>Search for Truth</B></FONT><P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS</B></FONT><BR> Augustine's spiritual journey also followed many pathways. Although his mother was a Christian, Augustine explored <A HREF="../t03/g029.html" TARGET="_top">Manicheeism</A> (a cult based on Persian <A HREF="../t03/g010.html" TARGET="_top">dualism</A>), the <A HREF="../t03/g047.html" TARGET="_top">scepticism</A> of the Academics, and <A HREF="../t03/g034.html" TARGET="_top">Neo-platonism</A>, before his conversion to Christianity.<P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>CONVERSION</B></FONT><BR> <IMG ALIGN=Left SRC="0903a.jpg" WIDTH="189" HEIGHT="150" ALT="CONVERSION"> <BLOCKQUOTE> "I made strenuous efforts on behalf of the preservation of the free choice of the human will, but the grace of God defeated me."<P> (Confessions Bk 8)</BLOCKQUOTE><BR clear=left> Augustine's search for truth was long and took him down many paths. When he found truth, it came as revelation. In Milan, he was introduced by Bishop Ambrose to certain <A HREF="../04/04f01.html" TARGET="_top">Platonic</A> works. Deep meditation on the <A HREF="../t03/g009.html" TARGET="_top">dialectic</A> method led to his first truly spiritual experience, a vision of eternal and unchanging beauty. Disappointed at the transience of the experience and his inability to avoid earthly distractions, he turned to St Paul. He opened the letters at random and the phrase that caught his eye was "put on Christ" (Romans 13). He abandoned his marriage plans, resigned his teaching post and was baptized.<P> "At long last I came to love you, beauty so ancient, yet ever new." (Confessions x.37) With these words, Augustine proclaims his conversion to Christianity, an event that was to shape the thinking of the church in later generations. <BR clear=left><BR> <HR width=100%> <A HREF="http://www.creatorix.com.au"><IMG SRC="../creatorix.gif" WIDTH="85" HEIGHT="40" BORDER="0" ALT="Creatorix" align=right></A> </BODY>