It is one fundamental conviction of ancient philosophy that, in contrast to the vast majority, only few are able to gain knowledge of truth. This axiom, which also underlies Cicero’s Hortensius, is adapted by the young Augustine. When looking for a concept of truth that combines the ideal of a philosophical existence with Christianity, he decides to join the Manichaeans. As opposed to the ‘main...

The controversies and theological debates between different religions have always been an interesting topic for the scholars of religion. These debates were usually carried out in two ways: orally, in a meeting dedicated to these debates, or in writing. One of the religious traditions criticized since its emergence and against which many refutations were written in the early Islamic centu...

This article proposes a methodology for the study of Manichaeism in Sermones ad populum. Sermons provide unique perspective on Augustine’s thought: they offered him opportunity to share theological and ethical concerns with responsive audience. Because his sermons have only recently been (re-)discovered as loci ideas, because constitute specific genre within oeuvre, development method studying ...