University of San Agustin

General Luna St., 5000 Iloilo City, Philippines

www.usa.edu.ph

CENTER FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES

MIDTERM EXAMINATION
ASF 1 – Life, Works, Teachings and Spirituality of Saint Augustine
2nd Semester
AY 2022-2023

Prayer Before Exams

O Lord, before You lie my strength and my weakness; preserve the one, heal the other. Before you lie my
knowledge and my ignorance. Come to my assistance as I prepare for this test. Help me to remember all
that is important. Let me remember You, let me understand You, let me love You. Increase these things in
me until You refashion me to Your will, Amen.

(Inspired by St. Augustine, The Trinity XV,51)

Test I: ESSAY
Instruction: Read the rubrics and please follow the instructions carefully. Not less than 150 words per question.

Criteria
2.5 pts 2 pts 1.5 pts 1 pt.
Response demonstrates an in- Response demonstrates a general Response demonstrates a minimal Response demonstrates a lack of
depth reflection on one’s personal reflection on, and personalization reflection on one’s personal life reflection on one’s personal life
Reflection

life as a student. Viewpoints and of one’s personal life as a student. and as a student. Viewpoints and and as a student. Viewpoints and
Depth of

interpretations are insightful and
well supported. Clear, detailed
examples are provided, as
applicable.
Response includes all components
and meets or exceeds all
Components
Required
Viewpoints and interpretations are
supported. Appropriate examples
are provided, as applicable.
Response includes most
components and meets most
interpretations are unsupported or
supported with flawed arguments.
Relevant examples are not
provided.
Response is missing some
components and/or does not fully
interpretations are missing,
inappropriate, and/or
unsupported. Examples are not
provided.
Response excludes essential
components and/or does not

requirements indicated in the
instructions. Each question or part
of the assignment is addressed
thoroughly.
Writing is clear, concise, and well
organized with excellent
sentence/paragraph construction.
Thoughts are expressed in a
Structure
requirements indicated in the
instructions. Each question or part
of the assignment is addressed..
Writing is mostly clear, concise, and
well organized with good
sentence/paragraph construction.
Thoughts are expressed in a
meet the requirements indicated in
the instructions. Some questions or
parts of the assignment are not
addressed.
Writing is unclear and/or
disorganized. Thoughts are not
expressed in a logical manner.
address the requirements
indicated in the instructions.
Many parts of the essay are
addressed minimally,
inadequately, and/or not at all.
Writing is unclear and
disorganized. Thoughts ramble
and make little sense. There are

There are more than five spelling, numerous spelling, grammar, or

coherent and logical manner.
There are no more than three
spelling, grammar, or syntax errors
per page of writing.
coherent and logical manner. There
grammar, or syntax errors per page syntax errors throughout the
are no more than five spelling,
grammar, or syntax errors per page of writing. response.
of writing.

Response shows strong evidence Response shows evidence of Response shows little evidence of Response shows no evidence of
of synthesis of ideas presented and synthesis of ideas presented and synthesis of ideas presented and synthesis of ideas presented and
Evidence and

insights gained throughout the insights gained throughout the insights gained throughout the insights gained throughout the
Practice

entire course. The implications of entire course. The implications of entire course. Few implications of entire course. No implications for
these insights for the respondent's these insights for the respondent's these insights for the respondent's the respondent's overall teaching
overall teaching practice are overall teaching practice are overall teaching practice are practice are presented, as
thoroughly detailed, as applicable. presented, as applicable. presented, as applicable. applicable.

1. Who is St. Augustine?

- St. Augustine was the bishop of Hippo. He is also called Saint Augustine of Hippo, with a Latin
name, Aurelius Augustinus. He was born on November 13, 354 in Tagaste, Algeria, and died last
August 28, 430. He is known to be a writer, theologian, rhetorician, and a skilled preacher. Saint
Augustine is regarded as one of the most important persons in the early church, not only for his
leadership but also for his wisdom and impact on the beliefs and dogma of the Christian Church.
His numerous written works include Confessions and The City of God, which helped lay built the
foundation of Christianity. Moreover, only the Bible itself had a greater impact on Latin
Christianity than his unique theological approach. Due in part to his affiliation with a religion that
was prevalent in the West during his lifetime and is still prevalent today, his work has continued
to be relevant today.

2. The life and the struggles of St. Augustine has always been an example of our own lives not just as a
student, but as sons and daughters to our parents and friends to our loved ones. Site at least two
significant event in the life of Augustine that reflects your own personal struggles and how you face it.
How did you overcome these challenges and who were those people that aid you in this endeavor?

- St. Augustine’s life struggles have shaped him to become a good influence in the lives of his
people especially those who believed in his distinctive theological teachings. One of the
significant events of St. Augustine’s life is when he fought sin in his own congregation, and I can
connect it with my heart-wrenching experiences with the people around me, where their desires
could sometimes be greedy, and I can’t afford to offer some help since I do not also have what
they want. I overcome this struggle when I realized that people to learn to yearn for God rather

Email: crs@usa.edu.ph | Contact No.: 337-4841 to 44 | Fax No.: (033) 337-4403

 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., 5000 Iloilo City, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph

CENTER FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES

than to yearn for the things of this world. In addition, I believe that St. Augustine also struggled
with his pride, and I can testify that it’s also one of my struggles up until now. However, I tend to
minimize my prideful attitude with the help of my family and my special someone. They helped
me realize that my pride would lead me nowhere, and it is more important to keep my both feet
on the ground.

3. What was the effect of Cicero’s Hortensius to the life of Augustine?

- Cicero’s Hortensius inspired and changed the life of St Augustine. This dialogue was a genre of
ancient philosophical literature that aimed to exhort the reader to the practice of philosophy and
explain its superiority to a materialistically-oriented life. After St. Augustine read this at an early
young age, it changed his life and it did inspire him to pursue wisdom. St. Augustine turned away
from his sinful life and decides to study the word of God. His encounter with the Hortensius
made him realize that he should look to his religion for answers. He also began to resist peer
pressure and refuse to participate in the cruelty of his friends’ actions.

4. What is Augustine’s concept of “return to self?”

- St. Augustine’s concept of “return to self” is a value in which he tries to imply that self-
knowledge is indeed a major step toward knowledge of God. This concept helps us understand
that we should not look outward; instead, we should focus on ourselves. Our inner selves are
where truth is found. St. Augustine wants us to return to ourselves because when we find a way
to make this happen, it the moment when our ego is operating in our favor and is at a healthy
point of balance when it is not swayed in either direction. It also entails giving permission to be
open to vulnerability and curiosity while summoning the bravery to take a chance on the
exploration of our unexplored selves. Whenever we find ourselves not taking the path that would
lead us to a better version of us, we must learn to take a deep breath and look for a reason to go
back and seek the true purpose of what’s within.

5. Explain what Manicheism is and the circumstances that led Augustine to join and leave this group?

- Manicheism is a dualistic religion that combine several beliefs in theology of struggle between
God and the Evil. This gnosticism taught people that life in this world is painful and radically evil,
and that the world is combination of spirit and matter, and that The Manichaean church from the
beginning was dedicated to vigorous missionary activity in an attempt to convert the world. St.
Augustine was influenced when he met a Manichaean bishop, in which Augustine finds him well-
spoken and pleasant due to his explanations although lacking in knowledge of Christ. He joined
this group for several months but gradually loses his faith in this. Several myths about astrology
have begun to strike Saint Augustine as logically inconsistent with science. He also began to have
doubts about the cogency of this religion, and sought answers from his fellow, but they could not
give Augustine the answers to his questions. Eventually, he abandoned this Manicheism and
converted to Christianity.

“Education is the food of youth, the delight of old age, the ornament of prosperity, the refuge and comfort of
adversity, and the provocation to grace in the soul.” St. Augustine

Prepared by: Reviewed and approved by:

_______________________ _______________________
PAUL ANDREW J. CARMELO FR. RODEL D. MAGIN, OSA
Teacher

Email: crs@usa.edu.ph | Contact No.: 337-4841 to 44 | Fax No.: (033) 337-4403