Understanding and believing in Augustine's Confessions and John Paul II's Fides et Ratio

Abstract

Although the Confessions is considered by most commentators as the first autobiography in Western culture but Augustine of Hippo meant it to be more meaningful, than just an account of his life. The philosophical and theological autobiography which was written during the first three years of tenure as bishop of Hippo reveals intimate facts about the author who was about 43 when he wrote this autobiography. On the other hand, this leads Augustine to confess his sins and be guided to accept Christianity by a spirit of remorse and the praise of God. Therefore, here one finds the idea of return to God. In fact, the first nine books of Augustine's Confessions involve the story of Augustine's life to his mother's death, while the last four books make an abrupt long departure into pure theology and philosophy. These thirteen books were written and copied by hand as there was no printing and no mass-production. The Confessions can therefore be, in a way, compared to a diary which moves the reader, since this work illustrates the journey of the soul until it finds grace. In book two, Augustine describes his adolescence sins of lust. This is a public confession and account of his youth, of his early sexual escapades. However, the latter is preoccupied with the thought of having stolen pears from a neighbourhood orchard and regretted these sins. In fact, he states why he committed these sins. Book two partly blames his theft of pears to peer pressure. For St. Augustine, like love, friendship must be subjected to reason since it can be a dangerous enemy.