3. How does Augustine use the death of his mother to illustrate his own spiritual life at this point in his life?
Augustine uses the death of Monica to illustrate his own spiritual life because his reaction can be compared to his reaction with his friend died at Thagaste. When his friend died at Thagaste, he marinated in his grief, and did not want to come out of it. He wanted to brew over the death of his friend and not get over it. However, now with the death of his mother (which should impact him more deeply, as she is his mother), he seems more at peace, and he could even look at it in a positive light, and see all the good that would come from it. He writes, "But my thoughts were upon the gifts you implant in the hearts of your faithful, O invisible God." This shows the level of spiritual maturity Augustine has in that he does not stew in grief over his mother, but can see the good side to it, and see how God works through it.
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Friday, October 21, 2016
Core Learning Objective
How were the people and ecosystems of the Americas, Africa, and Europe intertwined in this period?
The people and ecosystems of these lands were intertwined in this period because of the increase of exploration, and the increase of trade. Countries at this point began to look for other lands to harvest natural resources for their gain. They took to the seas, and discovered many new lands. this intertwined these lands because people began to populate different lands than where they were before, so cultures mixed. This was an example of different nations interact with each other- which is something that didn't happen often. Also, trade increased the bonds between these continents. There was an increase in slave trade, which started the slave trade triangle, which connected the continents to each other. One consequence of this is that there was an increase in plague because diseases from areas could be transported to other areas where they had never been exposed. This caused many deaths and epidemics. Also there was the transportation of animals. Some animals made their way onto ships and got transported across the sea, and could start their population in new areas.
The people and ecosystems of these lands were intertwined in this period because of the increase of exploration, and the increase of trade. Countries at this point began to look for other lands to harvest natural resources for their gain. They took to the seas, and discovered many new lands. this intertwined these lands because people began to populate different lands than where they were before, so cultures mixed. This was an example of different nations interact with each other- which is something that didn't happen often. Also, trade increased the bonds between these continents. There was an increase in slave trade, which started the slave trade triangle, which connected the continents to each other. One consequence of this is that there was an increase in plague because diseases from areas could be transported to other areas where they had never been exposed. This caused many deaths and epidemics. Also there was the transportation of animals. Some animals made their way onto ships and got transported across the sea, and could start their population in new areas.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Confessions Conversion
2. Why is it important that Augustine's friend Alypius is converted at the same time that Augustine is?
It is significant that Augustine's friend Alypius is converted at the same time because throughout the narrative, one of the main themes has been friendship. Augustine has had instances of many bad friendships where his friends pressure him to sin, but he knows that true friendship is encouraging each other, and building each other up in Christ. The fact that Alypius is converted at the same time is our first look into Augustine's first true friendship. Augustine also writes, "I did not know what followed, but the next verse was, Make room for the person who is weak in faith." This shows that his revelation and Alypius' go hand in hand in the same scripture, which also shows how significant their simultaneous conversions were.
It is significant that Augustine's friend Alypius is converted at the same time because throughout the narrative, one of the main themes has been friendship. Augustine has had instances of many bad friendships where his friends pressure him to sin, but he knows that true friendship is encouraging each other, and building each other up in Christ. The fact that Alypius is converted at the same time is our first look into Augustine's first true friendship. Augustine also writes, "I did not know what followed, but the next verse was, Make room for the person who is weak in faith." This shows that his revelation and Alypius' go hand in hand in the same scripture, which also shows how significant their simultaneous conversions were.
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Confessions Book 8
How does a new way of reading of Scripture (Ambrose's influence) and a new confidence in Scripture (aided by his reading of the Platonists) lead Augustine to find some answers to questions about the nature of God and evil? Does this mark the end of the need to ask these questions?
Augustine finds some answers to his questions in the Platonist philosophies, which led him to the truth of God. He retells how he told Simplicanius about how he came to find truth in these writings, and he agreed, saying that he was lucky not to have found other philosophers' works first, because might have led him astray. Augustine writes, "... how fortunate I was to not have stumbled on the writings of other philosophers, works full of fallacies and dishonesty that smacked of the principles of this world, whereas those Platonist writings conveyed in every possible way, albeit indirectly, the truth of God and his word." This shows that Augustine found many answers to his questions in this philosophy, but did not find answers to all his questions, because the nature of God and evil can never be fully understood, which is why this book is still relevant to this day.
Augustine finds some answers to his questions in the Platonist philosophies, which led him to the truth of God. He retells how he told Simplicanius about how he came to find truth in these writings, and he agreed, saying that he was lucky not to have found other philosophers' works first, because might have led him astray. Augustine writes, "... how fortunate I was to not have stumbled on the writings of other philosophers, works full of fallacies and dishonesty that smacked of the principles of this world, whereas those Platonist writings conveyed in every possible way, albeit indirectly, the truth of God and his word." This shows that Augustine found many answers to his questions in this philosophy, but did not find answers to all his questions, because the nature of God and evil can never be fully understood, which is why this book is still relevant to this day.
Monday, October 3, 2016
Augustine Book 6
3. Why does Augustine "interrupt his narrative to tell us about how Alypius became addicted to the violence of the gladiatorial contests?
Augustine takes time to explain how Alypius became addicted to the gladiator fights because he is showing how Alypius was shaped by this event and his salvation form it. He shows how easy it is for humans to fall into sin by comparing Alypius' will to not look at the fight to the actualy fight. As soon as he looked up, it was like the gladiator falling dead because his heart had fallen. He then shows that God saved him from this death inside himself, and he was ultimately restored. Augustine writes, "The foregoing episode was stored up in his memory and contributed to his future healing, as also did another." This episode was to show Alypius' healing and shaping, as well as showing how easily humans fall into sin.
Augustine takes time to explain how Alypius became addicted to the gladiator fights because he is showing how Alypius was shaped by this event and his salvation form it. He shows how easy it is for humans to fall into sin by comparing Alypius' will to not look at the fight to the actualy fight. As soon as he looked up, it was like the gladiator falling dead because his heart had fallen. He then shows that God saved him from this death inside himself, and he was ultimately restored. Augustine writes, "The foregoing episode was stored up in his memory and contributed to his future healing, as also did another." This episode was to show Alypius' healing and shaping, as well as showing how easily humans fall into sin.
On Dumpster Diving
1. How does Eighner organize his essay? What does such an organization imply?
Eighner Organizes his essay in a narrative/ story telling style. He gives a look into his life, and show what he dives for, and how he does it. he then moves on to his social commentary, where he talks about entertainment and wastefulness in our society. He ends off by giving his thesis in a sense, in that he says, "I think this is an attitude I share with the very wealthy- we both know there is plenty more where what have came from." The essay he writes has a tone of going against what people think (he shows that dumpster divers are not their stereotype) and this organization goes along with this, because usually the thesis comes at the beginning, and shows what the paper is about, but Eighner turns you on your head in the end.
2. Eighner's simple, understated tone suggests that anyone can adapt to dumpster diving with a little practice. Why do you think he uses such a tone?
I think that Eighner uses this understated tone to show his higher thinking that those around him. In his essay, he demonstrates the folly in the thinking of the middle class, and how they search for false truths. His tone adds to the idea that even though he is a dumpster diver, Eighner is more enlightened- and on top of that, not angry or bitter. Eighner does not give an angry tone to the stereotypes of the dumpster diver, but instead shows in a composed fashion the falseness in their thinking. This shows all the more how his thinking is more enlightened, because he does not let the negative connotations bring him down, but stands firm in his beliefs.
Eighner Organizes his essay in a narrative/ story telling style. He gives a look into his life, and show what he dives for, and how he does it. he then moves on to his social commentary, where he talks about entertainment and wastefulness in our society. He ends off by giving his thesis in a sense, in that he says, "I think this is an attitude I share with the very wealthy- we both know there is plenty more where what have came from." The essay he writes has a tone of going against what people think (he shows that dumpster divers are not their stereotype) and this organization goes along with this, because usually the thesis comes at the beginning, and shows what the paper is about, but Eighner turns you on your head in the end.
2. Eighner's simple, understated tone suggests that anyone can adapt to dumpster diving with a little practice. Why do you think he uses such a tone?
I think that Eighner uses this understated tone to show his higher thinking that those around him. In his essay, he demonstrates the folly in the thinking of the middle class, and how they search for false truths. His tone adds to the idea that even though he is a dumpster diver, Eighner is more enlightened- and on top of that, not angry or bitter. Eighner does not give an angry tone to the stereotypes of the dumpster diver, but instead shows in a composed fashion the falseness in their thinking. This shows all the more how his thinking is more enlightened, because he does not let the negative connotations bring him down, but stands firm in his beliefs.
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