Augustine's Confessions.Paper Prompt

REL 100-2B: God and Humanity Prof DeJong Paper Prompt: God and Humanity in Augustine’s Confessions , Books 1-9 Basic Requirements : 4-5 page paper, double-spaced, 12-point TNR or similar font, standard margins Prompt: Augustine begins the Confessions with the following claim: “You rouse them to take delight in praising you: for you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it comes to rest in you” (1.1.1). Using the Confessions and your lecture notes, write a paper summarizing Augustine’s intellectual, spiritual, and moral journey from restlessness to rest. Where did he try to find rest? Why did he not discover it in his various attempts to find happiness? Provide concrete examples of Augustine’s restlessness in the various stages of his life and explain Augustine’s intellectual and religious conversions as landmarks on his journey to find rest in God. Your paper should accomplish two main goals: 1. Chart or trace Augustine’s story, clarifying key moments in his journey to find God/rest. You should focus on how his convictions develop, particularly regarding the identity of God, the nature of sin and evil, and the path to human transformation. Feel free to draw connections between Augustine’s personal story and the broad narrative of the God-humanity relationship that we have been following in this course. 2. Interact personally with Augustine’s ideas. What ones do you find convincing or compelling? What ones do you find lacking? If you were to write your own intellectual autobiography, what convictions would be central to your identity? You should also feel free to offer personal reflections on the idea of confession and its possibilities (this might be a good way to conclude the paper). What can Augustine teach a reader today about the possibility of human transformation? How is it achieved? Are there particular observations about human nature that Augustine made that will remain with you? Should everyone engage in a process of “confession”? What is the value of such vulnerability/honesty? Citation/Sources : The only sources you require for this paper are Augustine’s Confessions and your lecture notes. You can also use your Bible and draw parallels between Augustine’s journey and the God-humanity relationship in the Bible. Any use of outside sources is strongly discouraged. Please set up a meeting with me if you are struggling with the Confessions ! This is to be a personal reflection on Augustine’s Confessions and the claims this book makes about the God-humanity relationship. You should support your claims with references to Confessions . The typical referencing system for Confessions is book number, section number, paragraph number (e.g., 1.1.1). The main way you will do this is by parenthetical reference after a summary or paraphrase in your own words. Example 1: Augustine describes his theft from the pear tree as his personal “fall” (2.4.9). Example 2: When reflecting on the death of his friend, Augustine describes his error as loving a mortal being as though he was immortal (4.6.11-7.13). A second way to do this is via direct quotation. Direct quotation should be selective and judicious, but it is appropriate when Augustine’s own words are the best way to make your point. Example 1: Augustine describes his theft from the pear tree as his emotional embrace of sin: “It was foul, this wickedness, and yet I loved it” (2.4.9).