Chp 5 Section 2

Ambrose: The Reluctant Leader

• Gov of Milan

• Calmed crowd protesting emperor’s choice of an Arian for bishop

• Urged by ppl to accept position of bishop

• Accepted; was baptized, confirmed, received Eucharist, ordained bishop

Administrator, Student, Teacher, Pastor

• Experienced administrator

• Lifelong student of Christianity

• Wrote books on theology– Aided ppl’s understanding of their relationship

to Jesus and to the church

• Pastor who helped his ppl– Famines– Barbarian attacks

Courage in the Face of Imperial Power

• Arian emperor commanded a church be given to the Arians– Ppl supported Ambrose

• Ppl practiced civil disobedience by filling the church 24/7

– Ambrose preached against state interference in religious matters

• Ambrose forced Theodosius to perform public penance after ordering thousands killed for revenge

Augustine

• Born in N Africa– Ppl spoke Latin and practiced Roman

customs

• Mother was a Christian

In Search of Meaning

• Augustine was head of his classes– Left b/c couldn’t pay tuition

• Time out of school, drank, gambled, visited prostitutes

– When he returned, studied to be a lawyer; was a teacher once finished

• Took a mistress, had a child, moved to Rome

Cont’d search of Meaning

• Manichaean-believed 1 god created good and another created evil; no one is responsible for his/her sins

• Taught in Milan– Studied Plato

• 1 God, humans have spiritual side

– Listened to Ambrose preach

• Wanted to reform life– “lust” kept him from doing so