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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Augustine feel when he reads of Zeus engaging in fornication and being powerful?

2. Why does Augustine write the confessions?

3. What is a flaw in the book in number 70?

4. How is Augustine a paradox within himself?

5. What does a Christian priest predict of Augustine?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Augustine fear about the effect of studying pagan myths when he was young?

2. How do the questions Augustine have about God and the world affect his faith?

3. What does Augustine believe about the men in the Bible and how does he apply that to people in general?

4. How does Augustine feel about the Christianity he comes in contact with and what does he observe about the morals of Christians?

5. Augustine says he wrote Confessions for what reason?

6. What does Augustine's parents want for him?

7. What does Augustine decide about reading Scripture and interpreting it?

8. What gives Augustine an excuse to continue following his baser desires?

9. Where does Augustine want to move and why?

10. What are Augustine's reflections on life and death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Moses wrote down the Holy Scriptures, he had to make them understandable, says Augustine. Moses also needed them to convey a deeper meaning to scholars and truth-seekers. The simple people think of the story of creation in a simple way, which is literal and materialistic.

1. Do you believe scholars are better able to understand religious writings than lay people? Why or why not?

2. Explain a situation in which you have read something you didn't understand.

3. What do you think Augustine means by "literal and materialistic" in the above sentence?

Essay Topic 2

In Book III, Augustin, in reading the philosopher Cicero's book, called Hortensius, first finds in himself the love for truth, or from the Greek derivation, philosophy.

1. Do you think Augustine at this point in his life sees any conflict between philosophy and religion? Why or why not?

2. Do you think later in his life Augustine sees any conflict between philosophy and religion? Why or why not?

3. At the point of Book III, what do you think Augustine sees as the purpose of philosophy? Does this change when he becomes a Christian?

Essay Topic 3

Though Augustine admits that he benefited from his studies of Latin and Greek literature, he resents how he was led astray morally by some of the stories. When he read of Zeus engaging in fornication and being powerful, it also made him want to do these deeds. So, already in boyhood, Augustine sees the struggle to form his moral judgment and not be led astray by popular stories or opinion.

1. Do you agree with Augustine's assertion about the influence the Greek and Latin literature had on his behavior? Why or why not?

2. In today's society there are people who assert that reading books about violent acts cause people to commit violent acts. Do you agree with this idea? Why or why not?

3. How do you think this idea of Augustine's about being led astray has influenced the justice system of the western world?

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