gustines Confessions is a beautiful prayer to God, it is also a philosophical work. It should be noted that while Augustine was a theo, pertaining to the philosophy of religion. Although Augustine is a saint and theologian, there is a distinct difference between religion and the philosophy of religion. Infancy.Book I.Augustine begins his autobiography praising God. He describes God as being all-powerful, everywhere, and beyond description. The reader can see how deep Augustines love for God is and with what reverence he praises Him. Augustine acknowledges the fact that God is in his soul, either partially or wholly. He wants the Confessions to be an example of Gods existence throughout his entire life. His soul is restless until it rests in God. He praises God for giving him the family he did.Augustine acknowledges the fact that as an infant he was not innocent. This seems strange since babies are thought to be pure and helpless. However, Augustine believed in the doctrine of original sin. Original sin is the sin of Adam, which all human beings inherit. It can only be taken away by baptism. Augustine mentions his regret that his mother did not baptize him as a young child. In those days it was customary to wait as long as possible to receive the sacrament of baptism. This was because baptism took away original sins as well as all other sins committed up to that point.Augustine discusses his childish sins (22), and is disgusted with them. Augustine appears to be too hard on himself, however he points out that, These same sins grow worse as we grow older:first it is offenses against pedagogues and teachers, or cheating over nuts and balls and sparrows; then later is is crimes against prefects and kings, and fraud in gold and estated and slaves (23). Augustine ends by thanking God and again points out the power of Gods grace in every moment of his life.Book II.Augustine is now sixteen and he has a sexual awakening. He re...
