Final answer:
Augustine's conversion to Christianity involved a struggle between intellect and faith, influenced by Antony of the Desert and the teachings on divine grace. His intellectual journey and reflection on Scripture ultimate led to his acceptance of divine grace over human will for salvation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Augustine of Hippo's conversion to Christianity was a culmination of intellectual struggle and personal enlightenment. The process began in Carthage, where his studies led him to a teaching position in Milan. It was here, influenced by the life of Antony of the Desert and confronting the strict determinism of Manicheanism, that Augustine experienced a conflict between his desire for a virtuous life and his human sinfulness.
The turning point came from his reading and reflection on Scripture, leading Augustine to the realization that divine grace was necessary for salvation, and that human will could be directed towards the good. His conversion was also shaped by his mother's faith, and thoughts on the temporal nature of the empire contrasted with the eternal nature of God’s Kingdom, as explained in 'The City of God.'
Augustine saw the societal shift to Christianity and participated actively as Bishop of Hippo, defending the orthodoxy and advocating for grace over human capability alone in achieving salvation. Augustine's conversion story reflects a path through skepticism to belief, marked by an intellectual quest for truth culminating in the acceptance of Christian doctrine.