PHILOSOPHERS'STONE.PART 51

Shall we approach Christian truths or revelation with the help of reason?Many can point out contradiction between Bible and reason,that those who practiced christianity in those days tested the validity of christianity with institutional reason. Belief and knowledge were compatible.Let me go onto to cite two instances of medieval philosophers that dealt with these questions. First St. Augustine of Hippo(354-430)comes greedily to mind.If we take account of his life,we can observe the graphic transition from late antiquity to the early middle ages.He was born in a little town of Tagaste,North Africa.He went to Carthage to study at age sixteen and after hehad traveled to Rome and Milan,eventually settled in the town of Hippo,sittuated some few miles west ofCarthage.He was one of the founding fathers of the church,but was never a christian all his life.But before he became a christian,he tested several religions and philosophies.First,a Manichaen as tagged that is refering to Manichaens who were a religious sect.