Augustines God Vs. Epictetus God :: essays research papers

At first glance, I was immediatly be given to argue in epictetus favor, because it pains me to argue that Christianity is good for eitherbody. In the pursuance paragraphs, i will contrast the theology of Epictetus, and the God of Augustine, and in the end, my raise will be clear. Epictetus and Augustine both identify God on introductory level. Epictetus says,"Where the essence of God is, there too is the essence of good. What is the essence of God?......Right Reason? Certainly. Here then, without more ado, seek the essence of good." He says try for goodness, live in conformity with it, and you will find God. God is the decisive force that creates all things and the cosmic in heraldegence that governs it from within.Augustine says"Where I found truth, there i found my God, who is truth itself."He says strive for truth and understanding...In loving God, we cognize truth. Persons can come to know truth though inner suffer and conviction, he holds that you cant obtain true knowledge without belief. you must have faith in God, who is the essence of all truth.Both philosophers address mans spotlessness in the face of God. Epictetus asserted that mankinds are basically limited and ill-judged beings, provided that the universe, ruled by God through pure reason, is perfect. Because human beings can n both know nor control their destiny, they must cease air for the attainment of worldly ends and pleasures and instead calmly accept the fact of their avouch powerlessness before fate. The only thing in a persons power is their response to events or outlook, namely, their morality. Augustine believed faith preceded reason. He believed people are good, but not perfect. But in Augustinean theology, each person is predestined to either heaven, or to fry like bacon, and theres nothing you can do near it. Salvation is a "free gift" with purchase, but only to every(prenominal) 7,000th caller. This is where i would think morality means squ at. If you know God headstrong when you were born whether or not you were going to heaven, nothing you do makes any difference. You can step all over everbody, and run with scissors and it doesnt matter. If you go to hell, you were going there anyway. If youre going to heaven, youve got a few good stories to tell when you get there. On top of allthis, Augustine says that no human question can penetrate the mystery of of Gods wisdom.