He enjoyed watching popular plays, tragedies in which characters experience sorrow for impure reasons. Evil/Wickedness. A summary of Book VIII in Augustine's Confessions. Download. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Augustine's Confessions. Analysis. 427-347 BCE and progenitor of philosophy of Platonism. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Summary. Augustine reports that he loved reading Latin literature but always hated Greek. 2147 The Enchridion. This is the start of our new feature, The Friar Book Club. Suggestions. A suggested list of literary criticism on St. In school at Carthage, Augustine continues to be lost in carnal desires. D. Context for Book VIII Quotes. He is still ambitious for worldly success, and he cannot imagine giving up sex for a life of religious celibacy. St. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4. Simplicianus is Ambrose's mentor and takes time with Augustine, telling him the conversion story of Victorinus. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Confessions and what it means. Book I Overview. D. Oh how high art Thou, and yet the humble in heart are Thy dwelling-place; for Thou raisest up those that are bowed down, and they fall not, whose elevation Thou art. Analysis. We bring evil onto ourselves because we actively choose corruptible elements of the physical world rather than the eternal, perfect forms, which are spiritual. He commends Socrates for promoting the conclusion that there must. He is taken in by their objections to the literal sense of the Bible and by the physicality of their mythology, because he fails to understand that only the spiritual reality is the true one, while the physical reality is merely the. Book X, which is focused on the topic memory, marks the transition in the Confessions from autobiography to the direct analysis of philosophical and theological issues. Augustine's Confessions. A summary of Book XI in Augustine's Confessions. His moderately well-to-do family was religiously mixed. Noverim te, noverim me: "I would know you [God], I would know myself. Therefore, when Augustine references Psalm 9, the text to which he refers is the English version of 9 and 10 combined. Read the full text of Confessions: Book VII. The news that Augustine had left Manicheism pleased but did not surprise her, and she redoubled her prayers on his behalf since he had yet to commit meaningfully to Christianity. Many critics have taken Augustine at his word that he was a libertine. After having told us of his life and conversion, he now mimics the state of his mind after conversion by showing us as much of. All of creation depends on God's goodness, and God chose to create because of the abundance of his goodness. Important quotes from Book IX in Confessions. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Book 7 picks up the thread of Augustine 's dawning understanding of a transcendent God and his happiness that "our spiritual mother, your Catholic Church" seems to be pointing in the same direction. Augustine is moved by the story of Victorinus, but his old life has become a habit he cannot break. Begun in 413 AD, only a few years after the Sack of Rome, City of God is Augustine’s rejoinder to pagan misconceptions of Christianity. Book VI, Chapters 1-6 Summary. This document is an on-line reprint of Augustine: Confessions, a text and commentary by James J. SUMMARY. This is a watershed moment for the young Augustine, who finds in Neoplatonism a way of reconciling his long. The son of a pagan father and a Christian mother, Saint Augustine spent his early years torn between conflicting faiths and world views. Say unto my soul, I am your salvation. That is the question Augustine is asking here, and he sees the same idea everywhere. to IX. Christ for Augustine is also eternal, perfect wisdom itself, since such wisdom is both the nature of and the access to God. This confusion led to his misery for decades. Augustine's Confessions. Study Help Full Glossary for. Augustine points out that memory is not made of sense impressions but rather the images of what is perceived by the senses. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of. Augustine sets out to fully vindicate his faith and explain as much of the tenets of Christianity in the context of philosophy as possible. 99/year as selected above. He enjoyed watching popular plays, tragedies in which characters experience sorrow for impure reasons. I believe that all three come hand-in-hand throughout this book. Augustine with a Twist: The Similarities and Differences of the. in different amounts. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Get LitCharts A +. Augustine notes he is the best student at the. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. This guide utilizes the. Confessions Summary. writing process. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Confessions and what it means. Augustine proclaims that he enjoyed. Milan is the last place Augustine lives in the Confessions, and it is the site of his final steps toward Christianity and of his conversion experience in the garden. Flashcards; Learn; Test; Match; Q-Chat; Get a hint. This is a watershed moment for the young Augustine, who finds in Neoplatonism a way of reconciling his long. The text and commentary were encoded in SGML. Confessions study guide contains a biography of Saint Augustine, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Saint Augustine focuses on three major themes in his autobiography Confessions: sin, time, and the pursuit of truth and wisdom through knowledge. After moving to Milan he converted to Christianity under the influence of St. Summary and Analysis Book 3: Chapters 1-5. Context for Book VIII Quotes. More details. Augustine 's Confessions is not an autobiography in the literal sense, but is rather an autobiographical framework for a religious, moral, theological, and philosophical text. Having achieved both some understanding of God (and evil) and the humility to accept Christ, Augustine still agonizes over becoming a full member of the church. The mind or soul (the terms are somewhat interchangeable in Augustine) is the element that animates human beings. Ponticianus has already been baptized, and he and his friend decide to follow that path of renunciation. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or. When Bishop Ambrose forbids her from making offerings for the dead, as was customary in Africa, she obediently gives up the practice. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Confessions and what it means. Rudy fetches Rosa and they all wait together. as a whole in each thing. Given Augustine's strong opinions about sexuality, it is not surprising that his view of women is similarly complex and sometimes contradictory. A summary of Book V in Augustine's Confessions. Book 19 Summary. Augustine in Confessions. Augustine’s Flirtation with and Rejection of Manicheism. He goes to speak with Simplicianus, Ambrose's teacher. A summary of Confessions in Augustine's Selected Works of Augustine. In 391, he was ordained presbyter in the church of Hippo Regius (a small coastal town nearby). 95; paperback, $19. A suggested list of literary criticism on Augustine's Confessions . "Take up and read," from a series of frescos on the life of Augustine, bishop of Hippo (now Annaba, Algeria) done by Benozzo Gozzoli in San Gimignano (1465); This document is an on-line reprint of Augustine: Confessions, a text and commentary by James J. It is divided into an autobiographical half (what happened in Augustine’s life) and a biographical half (Monica’s life and death). St. Augustine’s Confessions is an autobiographical work in which the author recounts his own personal journey of faith and his struggles with sin and temptation. And Thee would man praise; man, but a particle of Thy creation; man, that bears about him his mortality, the witness of his sin, the witness that Thou resistest the proud: yet would man praise Thee; he, but a particle of Thy creation. Mr. While Augustine's group is at the port of Ostia, Monica dies, Augustine reminisces about her. Wickedness and Evil. St. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. I loved not yet, yet I loved to love, and out of a deep-seated want, I hated myself for wanting not. In his puberty, Augustine committed adultery and theft, and was pleased in. A summary of Book II in St. As a child, Augustine hated being forced to study, and those who forced him had only empty wealth and glory in mind. Wasting no time in getting to the philosophical content of his autobiography, Augustine's account of his early. Whoso understandeth, let him confess unto Thee; and whoso understandeth not, let him confess unto Thee. Books had the power to heal and to transform. Book VII, Chapters 1-8 Summary. He says that as an adolescent he was misguided. ;Chapter Summaries & Analyses. Book 1: Augustine’s Infancy and Boyhood Opening Prayer [1. It is a polished work, and is likely the. Critical Essays Women in the Confessions. He had developed lung problems that teaching aggravated and, not wanting to be boastful in his conversion, was grateful that this health issue provided an. Augustine disagreed, maintaining that human beings are both body and soul together. 6,350+ In-Depth Study Guides. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. ”. Book XII. 99/year as selected above. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Confessions and what it means. He Praises God, the Author of Safety, and Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, Acknowledging His Own Wickedness. Translation . Hans returns and that night he plays the accordion, but the notes sound wrong. In a spirit of thankfulness let me recall the mercies you lavished on me, O mySt. Book VII Overview. BOOK ISummary and Analysis Book 3: Chapters 1-5. 2 of 29. BOOK VII . In this Book Augustine "sums up" the points he has laboriously proven in the previous Books, and also touches on some other points of Catholic doctrine. Then, in the Book of Genesis, the skies would be considered part of the earth, below. Augustine argues that God does not allow evil to exist so much as we choose it by our actions, deeds. It doesn't matter how articulately something is phrased if it isn't true, Augustine says. According to Augustine, one has to have a clear understanding of them all to somewhat understand God and the world. Summary. My god has answered this more than abundantly. 99/year as selected above. The book was in response to allegations that Christianity brought about the decline of Rome and is considered one of. Book V follows the young Augustine from Carthage (where he finds his students too rowdy for his liking) to Rome (where he finds them too corrupt) and on to Milan, where he will remain until his conversion. Augustine’s Confessions is a diverse blend of autobiographical accounts as well as philosophical, theological and critical analysis of the Christian Bible. He was in the beginning with God. He closes the Book (and the story of his life) with a prayer for Monica's soul. A summary of Book VI in Augustine's Confessions. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. This is the turning point in Augustine's narrative, since it sets up the conflict that will follow and must be resolved by him. Instead, he remembers with pleasure how he and his secret girlfriend used to sneak out and meet each other one long-ago. He discovers that he has an aptitude for rhetoric (having read Confessions, we agree), and becomes a literature teacher. I will now call to mind my past foulness, and the carnal corruptions of my soul; not because I love them, but that I may love Thee, O my God. as a whole in each thing. He no longer wanted to teach and wanted to abandon all his. Upon arriving in Carthage at age 17, Augustine wishes to fall in love, not realizing that what he craves is God. Upon arriving in Carthage at age 17, Augustine wishes to fall in love, not realizing that what he craves is God. He disliked learning the mechanics of Latin, but it was better than reading vain stories. He "ran wild," he writes, "in the jungle of erotic adventures. 99/month or $24. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Except for the Apostles and other New Testament authors, no believer has affected the shape of our Christian faith more than Augustine of Hippo (354-430). 6,350+ In-Depth Study Guides. Summary. My heart, O Lord, touched with the words of Thy Holy Scripture, is much busied, amid this poverty of my life. Patrick remained a Pagan until being baptized on his deathbed. " He asks where his "power of free decision" had been in "those long weary years," and from where had it. There was indeed one thing for which I wished to tarry a little in this life, and that was that I might see you a Catholic Christian before I died. God created them through the Word, Jesus Christ. It is a dead translation. Book II. To be near her son, Monica moved to Milan. Augustine opens with a statement of praise to God; to praise God is the natural desire of all men. Augustine – Confessions, Book 2 (Summary) Posted in Ancient Rome, Philosophy and Theology, Religion, Year 1 “Lord guide this lightning bolt square & true” St. Augustine invented the soliloquia —not quite the soliloquy today's readers think of as a monologue, but an imagined dialogue—in the case of The Confessions, between him and his. Monica is an engaging character, strong, energetic, and completely. Saint Augustine. Read the full text of Confessions: Book IV. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. Genesis is the first book of the Christian Bible, and Augustine devotes a good deal of writing to its interpretation toward the end of the Confessions. I was blown away by the beauty, the profundity, the. He blames his sinfulness on uncontrollable passion. 99/month or $24. He is faithful to her, although their relationship was based on sex, not on friendship. Summary and Analysis Book 8: Chapters 1-4. Summary and Analysis Book 9: Chapters 8-13. In school at Carthage, Augustine continues to be lost in carnal desires. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Confessions and what it means. Augustine is raised in a Christian household, but as he grows older, his faith wanders and his soul becomes chained to lower goods. And therefore most times, is the poverty of human understanding copious in words, because enquiring hath more to say than discovering, and demanding is longer than obtaining, and our hand that knocks, hath more work to do. Citing divine intimacy as motivation and discounting “life’s experiences,” Augustine commits to “do [ing] truth […] in my heart by confession in your presence, and with my pen before many witnesses” (181). The first nine Books (or chapters) of the work trace the story of Augustine's life, from his birth (354 CE) up to the events that took place just after his conversion to Catholicism (386 CE). In the aftermath of a disastrous and unprecedented attack on Rome by the Vandals, many Roman. With Book 19, Augustine leaves off his historical analysis and returns to philosophical and theological topics. THE CONFESSIONS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE By Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo Translated by E. Preview. Background on Augustine. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. BOOK I . Augustine Biography; Critical Essays; The Confessions and Autobiography; Augustine's View of Sexuality; Women in the Confessions; Study Help; Quiz; Full Glossary for St. Both boiled confusedly within me, and dragged my unstable youth down over the cliffs of unchaste desires and plunged me into a gulf of infamy. ”. 99/month or $24. Faustus, a famous Manichean bishop, arrived in Carthage when Augustine was 29. Summary and Analysis Book 8: Chapters 1-4. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “Confessions” by Saint Augustine. His significance in church history can hardy be overstated. A summary of Book XI in St. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4. Plato's philosophy in Meno and other dialogues influences Augustine's conception of memory. Instead, truth can only be found by turning toward one’s inner vision. First, this essay will discuss the life St. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Returning to Thagaste from his studies at Carthage, Augustine began to teach rhetoric, making friends and chasing a career along the way. 99/month or $24. Summary and Analysis Book 4: Chapters 1-3. This phrase is a fitting summary of Augustine’s theology. Book 1 Summary. Augustine with a Twist: The Similarities and Differences of the. Saint Augustine. Book XII. Only god, found inwardly, offers truth. OXFORD. Augustine thanks God for liberating him from his sinful inclinations, then tells of his decision to resign from the work he now viewed as empowering sinners. Summary. Book VI ends with Augustine in a state of extreme suspension, nearly ready to convert, nearly ready to marry, and still plagued by doubts. Manichee beliefs begin to lose their luster for him during this period, and by the end of the Book he considers. Augustine's precise motivation for writing his life story at that point is not clear, but there are at least two possible causes. I. Confessions is an autobiographical work by Saint Augustine, consisting of 13 books written in Latin between AD 397 and 400. Summary. Returning to Thagaste from his studies at Carthage, Augustine began to teach rhetoric, making friends and chasing a career along the way. A summary of Book IV in Augustine's Confessions. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Confessions and what it means. He identifies two closely related causes. Summary and Analysis Book 9: Chapters 8-13. BOOK III . Augustine and published around 397 CE. A summary of Book XI in Augustine's Confessions. Augustine was perhaps the greatest Christian philosopher of Antiquity and certainly the one who exerted the deepest and most lasting influence. H. Summary. Book 11 is an extended discourse on time, in which Augustine begins to introduce his exegesis (interpretation) of the first chapters of Genesis. His famous works Confessions and City of God are discussed in this Guide. Although his students often used the skills of persuasion Augustine taught them for dishonest ends—as Augustine confesses he did, too—he credits himself for "try [ing] to teach them. Augustine remained a Manichee from ages 19 to 29. Book 2: Augustine’s Adolescence Adolescence Lust (2. Augustine's Confessions Book 2 Summary. The first book of the Confessions is devoted primarily to an analysis of Augustine's life as a child, from his infancy (which he cannot recall and must reconstruct) up through his days as a schoolboy in Thagaste (in Eastern Algeria). I am a knowing and willing being; I know that I am and that I will; and I will to be and to know. He has begun his studies of law, and he keeps company with a group of unruly students, although. Augustine's Confessions. Wasting no time in getting to the philosophical content of his autobiography, Augustine's. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Book III. " In addition to his first sexual escapades, Augustine is also quite concerned with an. His father, Patricius, was a pagan who still adhered to the old gods of Rome, and his mother. A RTS OF L IBERTY Augustine’s Confessions A Pr oj e c t of th e U n i v e r s ity of Da l l a s Ou tl in e, Q u e s tion s & I mp or ta n t Pa s s a g e s. Summary. Confessions. Plato believed that learning is a kind of remembering, in which the soul rediscovers a truth it knew before birth. Reading was nothing short of salvific for Augustine. I can see why, at the end of his life, the mathematician, scientist, and philosopher Blaise Pascal gave away his entire library of books, keeping only two: the Bible and Augustine’s Confessions. Augustine was baptized by Ambrose at Milan during Eastertide, A. The first book of the Confessions is devoted primarily to an analysis of Augustine's life as a child, from his infancy (which he cannot recall and must reconstruct) up through his days as a schoolboy in Thagaste (in Eastern Algeria). Amor Dei: a Study of the Religion of Saint Augustine. Context for Book I Quotes. 1. 99/year as selected above. For Christians, Christ is the only true access to God. Nebridius. He also continues to talk about how much he likes being praised. The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. Summary. Augustine's Confessions; Essay. The most widely used translation of the Confessions is the one by a Mr. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “Confessions” by Saint Augustine. Augustine and published around 397 BCE. Summary. In Confessions, Augustine frequently refers to the completeness of God, and expresses the belief that anything outside of God is "lesser" - and perhaps even evil. Augustine's Confessions. Faustus comes rolling into town. Augustine with a Twist: The Similarities and Differences of the. Confessions(Latin: Confessiones) is an autobiographicalwork by Augustine of Hippo, consisting of 13 books written in Latin between AD 397 and 400. Augustine of Hippo. Augustine was in poor health and felt his life was going nowhere. Context for Book VII Quotes. The text of Genesis describes a nascent earth as 'invisible and unorganized,' in Augustine's reading - an earth comprised of fluid 'formless matter. The Friar Book Club. and became putrid in [God's] sight. 387. a CONFESSIONS a 5 me the comforts of woman’s milk. In the school of thought known as Neoplatonism, Augustine found a way of reconciling his long pursuit of philosophy with his new and serious faith in the Catholic Church. All things were made by him, and without him nothing was made. Augustine turns to his adolescence and describes his sins of lust. From this celibate vantagepoint, Augustine examines the sources for the decidedly un-celibate behavior as a younger man that he has described in his Confessions. Evil is a major theme in the Confessions, particularly in regard to its origin. A masterpiece of Western culture, The City of God was written in response to pagan claims that the sack of Rome by barbarians in 410 was. Volusianus was concerned that Christianity had weakened the Roman Empire, especially in contrast to Rome’s former strength when it had served pagan gods. Book 7 picks up the thread of Augustine 's dawning understanding of a transcendent God and his happiness that "our spiritual mother, your Catholic Church" seems to be pointing in the same direction. He dedicates it to a famous orator, whom he admired and wants to imitate. 99/month or $24. Among Augustine's works, Confessions is the. A summary of Book XII in St. Learn more about Confessions by reading background on Augustine and his Confessions as well as essay that provide context for it. He uncovers a wide-ranging explanation of history that begins with creation itself, moves through the turmoil and upheaval of man-made states (the City of the World), and continues to the realization of the kingdom of. Chapter 1. These two aims come together in the Confessions. Augustine, focusing as much as I can on his theological and philosophical elab. Full Work Analysis. 19 The motif and contents of the Confessions reflect Augustine’s Greco- Roman heritage. They give introductions and summaries, followed up with in-depth considerations of key critical moments and themes, plus lists of "points to ponder" while reading. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. c. Book VIII tells the story of his conversion experience in Milan, which begins with an agonizing state of spiritual paralysis and ends with an ecstatic. Full Work Summary. Augustine shared his struggles and was relieved to learn that the bishop approved of Neoplatonism. After this voice let me haste, and take hold on Thee. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Divine Justice. Pusey (Edward Bouverie) AD 401 CONTENTS. We bring evil onto ourselves because we actively choose corruptible elements of the physical world rather than the eternal, perfect forms, which are spiritual. Like the Manicheans, the young Augustine could not understand how evil could exist if God was omnipotent. Context for Book V Quotes. Summary and Analysis Book 9: Chapters 1-7. With Book 11, Augustine moves to Part 2 of City of God, in which he promises to trace out the histories of the earthly city and the city of God from their beginnings, following “the rise, the development, and the destined ends of the two cities” (430). To confess, in Augustine's time, meant both to give an account of one's faults to God and to praise God (to speak one's love for God). First published in 2015, and the 2016 Wolfson History Prize winner, the book tells the story of Saint Augustine’s early years until the point he discovered Christianity and vowed to live a celibate life. Although Augustine has been using Neoplatonic terms and ideas throughout the Confessions thus far, it isn't until Book VII that he reaches the point in his autobiography when he first reads Neoplatonic philosophy. A Midsummer Night's Dream Dr. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4. Augustine had many major. A. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. 2 of 29. Saint Augustine, in his book, The Confessions, presents to God the confession of his life of sins, and in so doing, also presents to the reader his profound insights into biblical doctrine, creation, human nature, divine nature and the relationship between man and his Creator. He Calls Upon God, and Proposes to Himself to Worship Him. Confessions Summary. Augustine's work is an extended prayer and intimate conversation with a divine Beloved. Book I Overview. At this time, Augustine still does not understand beauty; seeking to explain it, he writes a work On the Beautiful and the Fitting, which he has since lost. Context for Book II Quotes. 95. The first nine Books (or chapters) of the work trace the story of Augustine's life, from his birth (354 CE) up to the events that took place just after his conversion to Catholicism (386 CE). He is deeply distressed, therefore, that he cannot leave his old life now that he no longer has any doubts about Christianity. Augustine attributes his mother's piety to God rather than to her parents and upbringing, and tells us about this super strict old nanny she had. 283 Words2 Pages. Augustine plumbed into his memory to trace how God has poured His grace onto him since infancy, yet he has sinned since he was born. The work can thus be viewed as both a discursive document. Suggestions. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. For him conversion is coupled with living a celibate life, but this was not a. Following his conversion, Augustine has decided not to withdraw from public life immediately, not wanting to appear vain. He indirectly uses imagery of pilgrimage, a motif that is threaded through The Confessions, to depict the soul's wandering until it finds God. O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, and the son of Your handmaid: You have loosed my bonds. 12-10-2022. It is obvious that all things were created, because they are subject to change. It is Augustine re-interpreting his life through a biblical lens “to. Monica is violently opposed, and Augustine has to lie to her in order to get away from Carthage. Study Guide. After a lifetime spent engaged in a philosophical search, Augustine finally began to read Neoplatonic texts. BOOK VIII . Summary. The human audience for the text is other. Before the soul enters the body at birth, where is it? with God. Basically, Augustine doesn't know whether he is strong enough to live without something unless that thing is actually taken from him. He Praises God, the Author of Safety, and Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, Acknowledging His Own Wickedness. Augustine - Philosopher, Theologian, Bishop: Although autobiographical narrative makes up much of the first 9 of the 13 books of Augustine’s Confessiones (c. Written in two stages (Books 1 and 2) at the end of the 4th century and completed by the year 395. Manichee beliefs begin to lose their luster for him during this period, and by the end of the Book he considers. O my God, let me, with thanksgiving, remember, and confess unto Thee Thy mercies on me. . Essential to this is uncovering the dialogue with philosophy, especially that with the Stoics, Skeptics and Platonists, embedded in the text, seeing how fundamental philosophical-theological forms, especially the Trinity, are present and determinative. Summary. 1. Augustine disagreed, maintaining that human beings are both body and soul together. St Augustine Of Hippo Analysis. For neither my mother nor my nurses stored their own breasts for me; but Thou didst bestow the food of my infancy through them, according to Thine ordi -Augustine, Confessions, Book 1—The Opening SectionsIn The Confessions, Saint Augustine addressed himself eloquently and passionately to the enduring spiritual questions that have stirred the minds and hearts of thoughtful men since time began.