St. Augustine Research Paper

Aquinas and Augustine

1. Fetal Soul: Researching the topic of St. Augustine’s beliefs on ensoulment and abortion, leads me to conclude that he did not advocate for abortion during any period of the reproductive cycle. As a matter of fact, I believe St. Augustine condoned abortion by equating it to murder. The evidence I obtained to support this opinion was gathered through a variety of sources, most notability the extensive work of Dr. John C. Bauerschmidt, an Oxford scholar of philosophy and Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee. Bauerschmidt’s extensive analysis of St. Augustine’s endeavors, led him to tackle the subject in his doctoral thesis entitled, Sexual Difference and the Relationship of the Sexes in the Theology of St. Augustine.

However, accounting for the advancements in science that have occurred since 430 A.D. I suspect he would fervently revise his concepts. For instance, Aristotle’s theory that “only the male semen gave rise to an embryo, while the female only provided a place for the embryo to develop has been unequivocally proven incorrect. Additionally, St. Augustine reasoned, in accordance with the science of his day, “that the “body” of a pre-born child “lacked sensation” and from this he concluded that the child likewise lacked a human soul” (Bauerschmidt). Therefore, Augustine proposed; “the creature in the womb of its mother seemed to lack both sensation and soul, at least until the 40th day after conception” (St. Augustine). In this case, I could argue that modern technology, specifically, ultra sounds prove that a fetus does not lack sensation. Consequently, had St. Augustine been provided the opportunity to such resources and the outcomes of experiments like the film “Silent Scream,” produced, he would reappraise his position on

Therefore, it then stands to reason that in order for one to acquire perfect happiness, it must be of an everlasting nature. In other words, how can something that is temporary ever be truly perfect? My answer mirrors Aquinas’s, simply stated, it can’t. The matter of perfect happiness then takes precedence in our souls’ quest for immortality. Consequently, I am confident that the majority of Christian theologians would testify that non-Christians have no chance in receiving a heavenly after life (perfect happiness). I, on the other hand disagree. I could go into an in-depth explanation, however, I will conclude with the passing thought of “through God anything is