Augustine and his world

de Andrew Knowles, Pachomios Penkett

Augustine is one of the giants of the Christian church. From his birth in North Africa and his days as a relatively permissive young man, through his midlife conversion to Christianity and career as bishop of Hippo, his story has intrigued and inspired every generation for over 1,600 years. It is as a thinker, teacher, writer and debater that Augustine has exerted the most influence. His greatness lay in his ability to relate the philosophies of ancient Greece and Rome to the precepts of the Christian faith. Augustine also saved the church itself from disintegrating into rival factions by forging sound doctrine in the fires of controversy.