175k views
0 votes
What did St. Augustine mean when he said, "You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."

User Tuxxi
by
8.4k points

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

St. Augustine believed that humans are made to seek God and will remain restless until they find peace in divine union. With the capacity for free will, humans struggle between good and sinful desires, resolved only by divine grace. Augustine's influence in theology and philosophy is seen in his discussions on human nature, grace, and the inherent goodness of God's creation.

Step-by-step explanation:

When St. Augustine stated, "You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you," he was conveying the Christian theological concept that humans are inherently designed to seek God and that our innermost desires and peace are ultimately fulfilled only through union with the divine. Augustine's exploration of human nature and divine grace suggests that while humans possess free will, they are also marked by the original sin of Adam and Eve, leading to a natural inclination towards wrongdoing or sinfulness. Nevertheless, Augustine believed that it is within the realms of human will to choose goodness, and this struggle is a reflection of the existence of two conflicting wills. Only through divine grace can one achieve the peace and rest that the heart seeks, aligning oneself with God's larger providential plan. Augustine's work as Bishop of Hippo was instrumental in defending Christian orthodoxy and shaping philosophical thought, especially in his refutation of the Pelagian and Manichean heresies, and in his proposition that creation is inherently good as it comes from God.

User Jvenezia
by
8.6k points