Browsing by Author "Turner, Christina"

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    Towards a vision of God: A study of the light and darkness, and sight and blindness imagery in Book 7 of Augustine's Confessions
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-04) Turner, Christina; Kotze, Annemare; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis provides a sketch of Augustine’s journey towards knowledge of God, and his ensuing encounter with God through philosophical vision, as articulated in book 7 of the Confessions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which the pervading images of light and darkness, and associated images of sight and blindness are used in book 7 to bolster a protreptic communicative purpose of the book, aimed at the potential Manichaean reader. To this end, core aspects of the Manichaean doctrine are outlined in order to gain a fuller understanding of the concepts and images in book 7 which would have had special significance for a Manichaean reader. Aspects deemed relevant include their fundamental dualism, which revolved around the struggle between the material realms of light and darkness and pervaded every aspect of their thought; their focus on a literal apprehension of their teachings, and their insistence that the truth of their teachings, and the divine, cosmic struggle between light and darkness could be witnessed by every person through the senses. A reading of book 7 of the Confessions is then undertaken in which it is found that Augustine establishes a dichotomy between a materialist and a more conceptual, spiritual comprehension of God’s nature using contrasting images of blindness and sight, darkness and light. It is found that Augustine employs a model of argumentation which takes as its point of departure the world view of the Manichaeans, showing up the cracks in their thinking. He then presents his new-found perspectives as the better alternative, through the outlaying of proofs based on his reading of the books of the Platonists. Augustine finally describes his quest to locate a transcendent God through philosophical vision, and he raises the importance of spiritual vision and illumination in order to know God, as opposed to physical vision. In this way, the thesis argues that book 7 has aprotreptic communicative purpose aimed at the Manichaean reader; that core aspects of Manichaeism are refuted, and that their way of thinking is transformed towards a Neoplatonist-Christian approach, using language with which they were familiar.