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The Roman Empire was crumbling, civilization was bleak when Plotinus (c. 205 270 c.e.), philosopher of Neoplatonism, discovered his inner strength to help guide him. He described his god as not one of a personal nature, but rather, the coming together of the soul with god in a spiritual manner. Plotinus believed that this "mystical "touching" of god, this moment in which we have the "vision," is the highest moment of life." (Moore & Bruder, 2005, p. Chap. 5). He called this god "One".
Plato's metaphysics philosophy says there are two worlds. One is a dark place, a world with many changes such as sensation, ignorance, error, illusion, and darkness. The other world is the light, the world of Forms. This world holds intellect, knowledge, truth, reality, and brightness. The ultimate source of existence and essence, this god is called the "Good".
Plotinus's beliefs were inspirational to Augustine (c. 354-430 c.e.), who was an influential Christian theologian. Doctors and fathers of the Church doted on Plotinus's philosophy. As a result, Christianity became more widespread through Europe. Augustine who is believed to be the founder of Christian theology, wove Platonic and Neoplatonic philosophy into Christianity. He took Plato's Good and Plotinus's One and created the Christian God. He promoted the teachings, amending anything he did not understand. Augustine believed that Plotinus and Plato taught significant Christian principles to prepare him for the Scripture. Augustine was skeptical, believing that "nothing can be known", that an immaterial reality was superstitious. Plato and Plontinus helped him change his skepticism. If it had not been for Augustine's acceptance of this particular Christian belief, Christianity may not have been able to sustain itself through the ages.
Ironically, neither Plato or Plontinus were Christians.
Augustinian theology's holds that God created the world from nothing. His philosophy gives God a human conception, accepting the Gospel's description of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Augustine's philosophy is that God took on human formation as Jesus.
Principle Christianized philosophical movements had an impact on the modern world. Philosophical movements naturalism, existentialism, postmodernism against Christianity, established humanity focuses to teach Christianity. Ethics were imperative in Christianity philosophy.
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