e spirit. In Book 3, Chapter 10, Augustine denounces this and other such beliefs as "nonsense."During this period, Augustine was often told that his questions and concerns could best be addressed by a Manichean bishop, Faustus. In 383, this bishop went to Carthage where Augustine had the opportunity to study under him. While Augustine was impressed with his oratory skills, he found Faustus' answers insufficient. As Augustine put it, "...I found at once that the man was not learned in any of the liberal arts save literature, and not especially learned in even that." (P. 74) Thought is stint with the Manicheans was not completely finished at this point, he was heartily disillusioned.Later in the same year, Augustine would explore the works of Plotinus. Plotinus, in the late 3rd century, adapted many of the ideas and philosophies of Plato. Plotinus' body of work is known as Neoplatonism. Augustine was ever-ready to find a new path and took readily to this new philosophy. Neoplatonism is a philosophy of existence and the nature of the Word. Neoplatonism concludes that evil is not embodied by an outside source, but instead is a state of "non-being" or the absence of good, and that there is one supreme, eternal godhead. Augustine found that he preferred this rationalist approach over some of the more fantastic ideas of the Manicheans. In 384, Augustine moved to Milan, where he became enamored by the oratory skills of Bishop Ambrose. Early in his studies, Augustine had discounted Christian teachings through the scriptures as being "...unworthy to be compared with the majesty of Cicero" because of "their simplicity."(P.39) Ambrose would help guide Augustine and change his views of Christian teachings. Ambrose was an intellectual, well-spoken, well- read, and Christian. He was all that Augustine could hope for in a mentor. As Augustine describes him, "And he would go on to draw aside the veil of mystery and lay open the spiritual ...
