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Christianity In Augustine's Book VIII 'Conversion'

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Being a Christian can be challenging but also extremely rewarding. We as readers get to watch the way Christianity changes Augustines life in the story of “Conversion” Book VIII. Augustines life takes place between 354-430 B.C. , the story displays a young mans life before, during, and after accepting the Lord into his heart. In book VIII “Conversion”, we witness the struggle of what Augustine goes through to completely give his life to the lord. Augustines Book VIII “Conversion”, speaks to teach Christians today the importance of a true relationship with God, how powerful Gods’ love is for us truly is, and how important faith is in the journey to Christianity. There are two parts to becoming a Christian first is to surrender and the second …show more content…

It is interesting that Augustine uses the words “one-time mistresses”(1192), this shows that he has had more than one mistress. He is looking at this particular sin as if it was a category, and that it was okay because that was the one type of sin he was taking part in rather than multiply other sins. He also explains how this act is holding him back. what Augustine fails to understand is that all though wrong, having mistresses is still just a sin. In Romans 3:23 God says “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standards”. Showing that even though sin is not good it is okay and will be forgiven. This shows Augustines lack of faith in the forgiving God we serve. Augustines shows that he’s biggest battle to overcome is simple himself, he says, “controversy raging in my heart, a controversy about myself against myself”(1193). Augustine says he could “see the austere of beauty continence”(1192), the word continence means self control and abstinence. It is ironic that Augustine put this into the text because the biggest sin he is struggling with sleeping with woman. The woman he sees says “ He will not draw away and let you fall. Cast yourself without fear. He will receive you and heal you”(1193). The major point to take from this interaction is that the sin Augustine believes is over taking him is telling him to just trust and have faith in the Lord. It shows that even the bad cannot stay away from the Lord, because the devil himself knows anyone is capable of being healed. If Augustine would just have a tiny bit of faith he would realize anything is possible with God “all he ask us to do is open our hearts”(Darby). Augustine wants to see God in his life making changes so he knows he is real. Although that is not how our God works “if we could feel God every second of everyday then there

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