How Did St. Augustine Influence On Christianity

St. Augustine has had an enormous impact in the shaping of Western Christianity. In On Free Choice of the Will, Augustine describes the effects of human agency on inherent truth and emphasizes the idea that humans are bound by certain truths but are free to interpret them as they please. Perhaps the most influential aspect of Augustine’s writing was his insistence on using reason to prove his ideas, a concept that was contrary to the traditional Christian method of inquiry. Through his ideas of God and the nature of wisdom, he heavily influenced Christianity.
Augustine suggested that because we are able to conceptualize the idea of a superior form, it must exist. He proposed that human reason is the highest form of man, however human acknowledgment of its inferiority suggests that there must be something greater. Augustine states, "…reason discerns that it is inferior and through its own power discerns something eternal and immutable…” Augustine …show more content…
He argues that there is a universal definition for wisdom, but the discrepancy is in how men interpret the wisdom. While all humans are capable of knowing what is wise, many go about achieving it incorrectly. Augustine states, “His error is that he follows something that does not lead where he wishes to arrive.” Therefore, the free will of humans exists alongside wisdom. If happiness can only be achieved through wisdom, happiness is not guaranteed if humans have free will. Augustine’s quote implies that as a result of free will, there is no guarantee of happiness unless one actively works to seek wisdom. Similarly, Augustine repeatedly mentions “immutable truth” which is not subject to change, but can be perceived differently by each individual. The idea of a constant truth unites all people, however, not everyone reaches nor chooses “truth” therefore suggesting a negative consequence of free will, which explains the existence of