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THE AUGUSTINIAN ANSWERS
For sure, no one who studies philosophy or theology misses an encounter with Saint Augustine of Hippo. Just like any of the major philosophers, Augustinealso wrestled with the Kantian questions: What can I know? What may I do?What may I hope for?So, what can I know?To this question, Augustine answered with what is perhaps the mostquoted statement he has ever made: “
You have created us for Thyself, O Lord,and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.
” In other words, accordingto Augustine, every human heart longs for God. It attains no peace until it isfinally united and rested with God. As the Book of Psalms put it, “
 As the deer yearns for running streams, so my soul longs for you my God.
”People could have expected a highly intellectual answer from Augustine.Instead, he was very simple. For Augustine, if there is really anything to know, itis the knowledge that we human beings are created by God and that humanexistence draws its meaning from God alone.Augustine pointed out, however, that it is not enough to know that Godcreated us human beings and gives meaning to our existence. It is not enough tosimply believe that God created me. In short, faith is not enough. For Augustine,it is imperative that our faith seeks understanding. A true encounter with Godcannot take place if my faith lacks understanding because every true encounter with God is also a genuine experience of faith.
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