Abelard and Augustine: Devout Sinners and Christians
Abelard and St. Augustine felt compelled to write of their mistakes and misfortunes reflective of their lives. Despite the fact they did so in efforts to confess their sins, the two differ in a multitude of ways. Some of which include their approach for convincing people religion can provide them with salvation, or their attitudes towards religion in their earlier life.
St. Augustine wrote within the first century where Christianity was a competitor when it came to religion. Up until this time, Roman Paganism was undoubtedly the main religion within Europe. Yet, in this era, religion was mainly followed via the Emperor and his beliefs. As an illustration, if the ruling Emperor worshiped …show more content…
A philosopher who studied Universals, he spoke of himself with such self-admiration it resulted in trouble. Many followers and fellow intellectuals agreed with his knowledge since he was an incredible intellectual and debater. However, his teacher William of Champeaux, was challenged many times by Abelard in front of classes. Due to this lack of disrespect via Abelard’s doing, it resulted in the continued aid in Abelard’s later misfortunes. His egocentric personality caused many to distance themselves from his ideals, while some, like the church continued to endure his disposition. While many philosophers at the time believed in Universals as “realism,” Abelard challenged this concept with his own of Conceptualism. For Abelard, he believed that Universals were not real in the way Plato said, but they did hold larger meanings than just a concept or a word. To many educators at this time, including William of Champeaux, Abelard’s ideals were unacceptable. On the contrary, the church never found his writings of conceptualism to be unorthodox. If they had, Abelard would have rejected his own beliefs. Abelard claimed to have lived his life as an avid Catholic. Though he was a man of many sins, he worshiped the church and its ideals. If there was any word of his lectures as heresy, or the potential of being excommunicated by the church, Abelard would …show more content…
Augustine, known as one of the four founding fathers of the Catholic church, helped to shape and mold the rights and wrongs within the religion. From Augustine’s interpretations of the bible and its scriptures, many people who wished to follow an idealistic Christianity turned to Catholicism. Correspondingly, the two differ when it came to their attitudes towards faith. While Abelard was always an avid Christian throughout his life, Augustine did not become a believer in God or the Holy Spirit until later. Even so, Abelard looked to religion as a backbone of comfort, whereas Augustine looked to it for wisdom. Though, while Augustine made Christianity acceptable to intellectuals, Abelard made it relatable to the common man by proving its forgiveness of sin. In addition, Augustine’s Confessions clarified many ideas of Christianity the common man could not comprehend. One of which being that the Holy Spirit was not a physical thing, but rather a force above humankind. Augustine also continued to question why evil existed, and by looking to the scriptures he was able to discover that without evil, good would not exist either. By providing clarity to many commoners, it allowed the religion to appear less intimidating. Altogether, Augustine looked to the scriptures for wisdom and explanation. Whereas Abelard looked to Augustine’s
Abelard and St. Augustine felt compelled to write of their mistakes and misfortunes reflective of their lives. Despite the fact they did so in efforts to confess their sins, the two differ in a multitude of ways. Some of which include their approach for convincing people religion can provide them with salvation, or their attitudes towards religion in their earlier life.
St. Augustine wrote within the first century where Christianity was a competitor when it came to religion. Up until this time, Roman Paganism was undoubtedly the main religion within Europe. Yet, in this era, religion was mainly followed via the Emperor and his beliefs. As an illustration, if the ruling Emperor worshiped …show more content…
A philosopher who studied Universals, he spoke of himself with such self-admiration it resulted in trouble. Many followers and fellow intellectuals agreed with his knowledge since he was an incredible intellectual and debater. However, his teacher William of Champeaux, was challenged many times by Abelard in front of classes. Due to this lack of disrespect via Abelard’s doing, it resulted in the continued aid in Abelard’s later misfortunes. His egocentric personality caused many to distance themselves from his ideals, while some, like the church continued to endure his disposition. While many philosophers at the time believed in Universals as “realism,” Abelard challenged this concept with his own of Conceptualism. For Abelard, he believed that Universals were not real in the way Plato said, but they did hold larger meanings than just a concept or a word. To many educators at this time, including William of Champeaux, Abelard’s ideals were unacceptable. On the contrary, the church never found his writings of conceptualism to be unorthodox. If they had, Abelard would have rejected his own beliefs. Abelard claimed to have lived his life as an avid Catholic. Though he was a man of many sins, he worshiped the church and its ideals. If there was any word of his lectures as heresy, or the potential of being excommunicated by the church, Abelard would …show more content…
Augustine, known as one of the four founding fathers of the Catholic church, helped to shape and mold the rights and wrongs within the religion. From Augustine’s interpretations of the bible and its scriptures, many people who wished to follow an idealistic Christianity turned to Catholicism. Correspondingly, the two differ when it came to their attitudes towards faith. While Abelard was always an avid Christian throughout his life, Augustine did not become a believer in God or the Holy Spirit until later. Even so, Abelard looked to religion as a backbone of comfort, whereas Augustine looked to it for wisdom. Though, while Augustine made Christianity acceptable to intellectuals, Abelard made it relatable to the common man by proving its forgiveness of sin. In addition, Augustine’s Confessions clarified many ideas of Christianity the common man could not comprehend. One of which being that the Holy Spirit was not a physical thing, but rather a force above humankind. Augustine also continued to question why evil existed, and by looking to the scriptures he was able to discover that without evil, good would not exist either. By providing clarity to many commoners, it allowed the religion to appear less intimidating. Altogether, Augustine looked to the scriptures for wisdom and explanation. Whereas Abelard looked to Augustine’s