God, Memory and Beauty: A ‘Manichaean’ Analysis of Augustine’s Confessions 10,1–38

In: Mani and Augustine
Author:
Johannes van Oort
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Type:
Chapter
Pages:
284–306
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004417595_019

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This essay provides a ‘Manichaean’ analysis of conf. 10,1–38. It starts by analyzing the typical (anti-)Manichaean elements in the first part of Book 10. After that it focuses on Augustine’s search for God in memory. As in Manichaeism, the five senses are considered as a means of acquiring knowledge of God. Augustine’s subsequent exposition of memory (in which God may be found) displays striking parallels with the Coptic Manichaean Kephalaion 56. Moreover, the apex of Augustine’s account of his search for God, his depiction of God as Beauty, has striking parallels in Manichaean texts as well.

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Mani and Augustine

Collected Essays on Mani, Manichaeism and Augustine

Series:  Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies, Volume: 97
Cover Mani and Augustine
E-Book ISBN:
9789004417595
Publisher:
Brill
Print Publication Date:
01 Jul 2020
Preliminary Material
Mani and Manichaeism: A General Introduction
The Paraclete Mani as the Apostle of Jesus Christ and the Origins of a New Church
Jewish Elements in the Cologne Mani Codex
The Platonist Philosopher Alexander of Lycopolis on Manichaeism
‘Human Semen Eucharist’ among the Manichaeans? The Testimony of Augustine Reconsidered in Context
Another Case of ‘Human Semen Eucharist’ among the Manichaeans? Notes on the ‘Ceremony of the Fig’ in Cyril of Jerusalem’s Catechesis VI
Manichaean Imagery of Christ as God’s Right Hand
Manichaean Eschatology: Gnostic-Christian Thinking about the Last Things
On the Huguenot Isaac de Beausobre (1659–1738), Founding Father of Manichaean Studies: A Würdigung
Augustine and Manichaeism: An Introductory Overview
Manichaean Christians in Augustine’s Life and Work
Augustine and the Manichaeans: Their Church, Books, and Impact
Heeding and Hiding Their Particular Knowledge? An Analysis of Augustine’s Dispute with Fortunatus
Augustine’s Praise
The Young Augustine’s Knowledge of Manichaeism: An Analysis of the Confessions and Some Other Relevant Texts
Augustine’s Criticism of Manichaeism: The Case of Confessions 3,10 and Its Implications
‘Misisti manum tuam ex alto’: Manichaean Imagery of Christ as God’s Hand in Augustine’s Confessions?
Sin and Concupiscence in Augustine’s Confessions: An Analytical Overview of the Relevant Texts and Some Conclusions
Secundini Manichaei Epistula: Roman Manichaean ‘Biblical’ Argument in the Age of Augustine
Manichaeism in Augustine’s Sermons: The Case of sermo 182
Reminiscenses of Manichaeism in Augustine’s City of God
Mani and Manichaeism in Augustine’s De haeresibus: An Analysis of haer. 46,1
Was Julian Right? A Re-evaluation of Augustine’s and Mani’s Doctrines of Sexual Concupiscence and the Transmission of Sin
Augustine on Sexual Concupiscence and Original Sin
Manichaean Women in Augustine’s Life and Works
Manichaean Women in a Pseudo-Augustinian Testimony: An Analysis of the North African Testimonium de Manichaeis sectatoribus
New Directions in Manichaean Research: An Introduction to Manichaica Selecta
Studia Manichaica
Manichaeism in the Later Roman Empire and Medieval China
The Argumentation in the Greek-Christian Antimanichaica
Fragments of Mani’s Šābuhragān
Jewish Lore in Manichaean Cosmogony
The Manichaean ‘Psalms of the Wanderers’
Manichaeism in Mesopotamia and the Roman East
The Speech of the Living Soul
Uygur Manichaean Texts and Sogdian Texts from Turfan
Mani’s Psalms
Christian and Manichaean Remains from Quanzhou
The Role of Women in Manichaeism
The Manichaean Codices of Medinet Madi
Augustine’s Manichaean Dilemma in Context
Once Again: Augustine’s Manichaean Dilemma
De moribus ecclesiae catholicae et de moribus Manichaeorum
De utilitate credendi
De Genesi contra Manichaeos
Bibliography of Manichaean Sources
Index of Manichaean Sources
Index of Works of Augustine

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