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Saint Augustine of Hippo. Nov 13, 354- 430 A man who grew up as the Roman Empire Fell!. WRAP UP WEDNESDAY. A MAN OF WIT AND ENTHUSIASM. A MAN WHO TASTED EVIL. Peer- Pressure???. The Thrill?? The Rush?. AUGUSTINE’S BACKGROUND.
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Saint Augustine of Hippo Nov 13, 354- 430 A man who grew up as the Roman Empire Fell! WRAP UP WEDNESDAY
A MAN WHO TASTED EVIL Peer- Pressure??? The Thrill?? The Rush?
AUGUSTINE’S BACKGROUND 1.Patricius, father – hot-tempered who wanted him to be well educated. 2.Monica, Mother- prayerful and patient who wanted him to be a Good Christian. 3. Augustine was a bright student 4. He like to party, swear and have sex , he is a teenage father to Adeodatus 5.He liked rhetoric!!! 6. He loved plays that excited his imagination 7. He felt the Scriptures were too simple(Later he admits to being very conceited )
Curiosity and Ambition • He had an enthusiasm for learning! RTA= • For him the Key question: Where does evil come from? RTA = • He was “inspired” by Manichean philosophy • He got “enthused” about Faustus’ oratory • He got “energized” by St. Ambrose’s message • He was “hyped” about Plato • He was “rocked’ by the Life of St. Antony – this is a moment of paideiafor him
YOUR OLD WAYS MAY “CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM” • Augustine wants to change • “Lord, change me, but not yet” • “ I was divided between myself and myself” • He keeps going back to his old ways • Another paideia Moment comes at age 32 when he reads Saint Paul: • “Not in drunkeness and impurities, but put on the Lord Jesus and make no provisions for the desire of the flesh.”
Enthusiasm Brings Great Opportunities What’s holding you back? • “Thou was with me and I was not with you. You have called me, you have cried out and you have pierced my deafness!!!” Augustine • “You blocks, you stones, you less than senseless things.” Shakespeare • Nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm!!! • “ I was afraid to fail.”
ENTHUSIASM PRESENTS DANGERS • Laws keep us from getting enthused about the wrong things. • Considering the consequences might dampen (lower) our enthusiasm • Macbeth could not resist Lady Macbeth!!! • Adam could not resist Eve!!!! • Hector could resist Andromache!!!! • John Henry could not resist the challenge!!!!! • Thomas Hobbes in “Leviathan” urges us to resist the temptation to give up. We can succeed even • with just a little bit of hope!!!