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6Feb/12Off

An Article by Phin Upham

By Phin Upham

But Augustine did not find his faith through knowledge. "The dishes they set before me were still loaded with dazzling fantasies, illusions with which the eye deceives the mind… it did not nourish me but starved me all the more.[1]" His relentless search for truth in material knowledge led him astray. "I deafened the ears of my heart by allowing my mind to twist and turn among these material inventions.[2]" Augustine laments his intelligence and knowledge as temptations which he fell for. "What then was the value to me of my intelligence [and knowledge] when in the doctrine of your love I was lost… And was it so great a drawback to your faithful children that they were slower than I to understand such things? For they did not forsake you.[3]" But Augustine's intelligence played more of a role in his belief than he sometimes claims. Though he says, "I ought to have deplored my state, but instead my knowledge only bred self-conceit.[4]" His reading of the Hortensius drew his from the worldly toward truth, and the Platonists led his to look for truth "as something incorporeal, and I caught sight of your invisible nature.[5]" So perhaps, worldly knowledge can correct itself. It led Augustine from the correct path, and then turned him in the right direction.

It was scriptural knowledge that Augustine credits with leading him to the doorstep of faith. Though it could not take him beyond that. "The words of the scriptures were planted firmly in my heart and on all sides you were there like a rampart to defend me.[6]" The words of the scripture, and belief in his heart were not enough. Augustine says, "I was in torment, reproaching myself more bitterly than ever as I twisted and turned on my chain. I hoped that my chain might be broken once and for all, because it was only a small thing that held me. All the same it held me.[7]" He uses the passive tense when describing the severing of the chain because it was not through will or knowledge, or even belief that his faith would finally come. It was through the grace of God. Fallen, sinful man can never earn faith.

[1] Augustine. 61.

[2] Augustine. 87.

[3] Augustine. 89.

[4] Augustine. 154.

[5] Augustine. 154.

[6] Augustine. 157.

[7] Augustine. 175.

About the Author

While an undergraduate student at Harvard University, Phin Upham was the Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Review of Philosophy. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a PhD in Applied Economics and currently works as an investor in New York City and San Francisco. He is currently a Term Member on the Committee on Foreign Relations. Phin is a contributor to SuperPhilosophy.com. Read more articles by Phin Upham

4Feb/12Off

Phlebotomy Confirmed Me As Anemic

My school was hosting a Charity event where we were to fast for 24 hours to show solidarity for the many starving around the world.

This charity event was a way to help this generation understand the atrocities of this global epidemic and see the world outside of America. Myself and Student Union organized the event. I was looking forward to it and in the midst of all the hectic planning, I got sick. When I went to the Doctor and had a Phlebotomy done, I found out that I was anemic.

The timing could not have been worse. My new anemic status meant that I was not able to chance a day of fasting! I was devastated that I would be left out of an event I had organized with much rigor and love. All I could do was focus on the many people signed up to join and take care of them. Surprisingly, in dong that: I found my reaffirmation.

3Feb/12Off

Buy a College Care Package Online

When it comes to wanting to get a care package for college students out to your loved one in time the internet is the way to go. There are a bunch of different websites that not only are specifically in business to make care packages but they specialize in ones for college students as well. One thing that you should make sure of when ordering a college care package right now is to make sure on whether or not that the care package that you ordered is in stock. There is a big surge in orders being placed right now as a lot of mothers want to send a care package to their college students in time for Valentine's Day. You might be able to get it there on time if you pay for express shipping but the cost for such shipping can quickly become quite pricey and add to the bottom line.

30Jan/12Off

A Closer Peek on Parole Officer Job Description

Every individual has the capability to change and live a better life. This is the kind of idea that is pushed forward by the reformative aspect of the justice system. In prisons, there are people who are able to exhibit change within themselves by being responsible in everything that they do and being in good terms with their inmates. In this sense, the rewards that they could get is parole and liberty from imprisonment.

However, before a convict could go out to the real world, there are processes that one has to undergo so that they could once again be part of society. A certain law offender is actually being helped out by a parole officer in this process.

This is where the parole officer job description comes in. It is the parole officer's duty to guide the ex-offender in adjusting to what is waiting ahead of him. He supervises the parolees and lets them undergo certain counseling sessions as part of the reintegration program. With this, the parolees are given the chance to be ready to reenter society once again.

22Jan/12Off

LPN Schools in Florida: Online or in Campus?

Watch Nursing Professions Career Video: CNA, RN, LPN, LVN, CRNA, CNS ...Yes, there are indeed various LPN schools in Florida. However, which school would you rather enroll in? Are you interested to go to an ordinary nursing school or are you willing to be different by enrolling in an online nursing course? Well, you should follow the most effective way for you to eventually become a licensed practical nurse. Online nursing courses are quite popular these days. However, you need to be careful with the online nursing course that you would be enrolling in. Some, if not most, of these schools are not accredited by the state's board of education. It is not really a complete surprise to you simply because the online schools are not completely reliable in terms of providing good quality education. Yes, they are indeed popular because people love the convenience brought by the online realm. However, getting good quality education should clearly be a priority over convenience.

19Jan/12Off

Are You Looking for Dental Hygienist Schools?

Definitely, all courses give equal and better opportunities to students. However, if you want to grab a career that would bring you big amounts of money and at the same time does not pressure you in the number of units to be earned, you have to enrol in a dental hygiene course. Dental hygienist schools are everywhere. In fact, they are all present in various states in the United States. The schools may offer you various dental hygiene programs. Those programs are available for junior courses and even for a bachelor's degree. When looking for a dental hygienist school, you have to consider the proximity of the location. You can save funds when your school is near your home. Also, you have to see the programs offered by the school so you can choose between a junior or a bachelor's program. To become a dental hygienist is menial but exciting. Try it if you want.

17Jan/12Off

What Are IT Courses?

The term "IT courses" are admittedly vague, which is why we are going to discuss the basics of it as well as provide you with a simple but detailed explanation about IT courses for today's post.

IT courses basically refer to all courses that are designed to prepare an individual for a job in the information technology industry. Computer science is one of the oldest and most popular courses in IT. It does not make you however into a scientist, which is what many older sets of parents and grandparents tend to mistakenly assume about it. With computer science, you just learn about the different ways computers work and how to perform basic to advance troubleshooting for PCs that are showing signs of "distress".

Computer programming is also another popular IT course and one of the most difficult ones as well. With this type of IT course, you will learn about the different programming languages used. Programming languages are, strictly speaking, languages that computers understand and use in order to act in a particular way.

15Jan/12Off

Discover Finest Student Scholarships

Are you looking for a way to fund your higher studies? If yes, then find the finest school scholarships online as they can be of great help. Online websites will offer you access to an updated and accurate scholarship database by just creating your user profile for free. After that, you will receive regular updates on your profile about the new scholarships being added in the database. Online scholarship search is the best method as it allows you to fill up the scholarship application forms electronically, thus saving your time as well as money. You can find numerous scholarship resources as well as college scholarship options on the School Scholarships websites. These websites give you all the information on how to stay away from the scholarship scams. Also, you would get to know about some scholarship winning tips. The tips and the tricks provided by the financial grant assistants are trustworthy and they can help you in getting the scholarships easily.

15Jan/12Off

Anxiety Tips for Beating Peer Pressure

Peer pressure and a high expectancy rate can cause anxiety for students. Students who feel that they are judged by their fellow friends are always anxious. They feel that they can please their friends if they act the way that is expected of them. One good solution for them is some effective anxiety tips for peer pressure. First, students should understand that they cannot please all of the people. They should understand that no one is pressuring them and that no one should judge them. Other anxiety tips to ponder are through free talking and speech. Students who are afraid of their teachers or parents should try to release their anxiety. They can do so by talking with their parents. If their parents would not listen, they can ask a counselor to aid them. By the two anxiety tips and through understanding, students will be able to control their fear and they will be able to face reality.

15Jan/12Off

Reading Comprehension Activities

To help children become avid readers, it's a good idea to incorporate some reading comprehension activities into your daily life. Whether you're a parent, caregiver or teacher, it's an easy and fun way to spice up learning. Children are curious human beings. Believe or not, they love to learn. That's why as toddlers they are always touching things they are not supposed to and asking about things we don't know how to answer. Unfortunately, we discourage learning at a very early stage in life by saying the word "no" all the time. We do this as intent to make sure our young people don't do anything dangerous. To cater to their zest for life, try to have some activities to explore and learn by reading. For example, instead of reading a bedtime story to your child, have them read to you. Children love to be entertained and to entertain others. Show enthusiasm when your child reads to you.

7Jan/12Off

Getting the Best Jobs for Pharmacy Technicians in Reputed Firms

Public Sector Jobs, NHS Jobs, Health Care Jobs, Interim Management ...There are hundreds of requirements for pharmacy technicians in each city in the country. Although there is no formal qualification required to land yourself with one of these jobs, it is always better to have the certification required to have the job security and to be given preference over the others. Jobs for pharmacy technicians are often a very easy thing to do as there is no heavy manual labor that is involved at any stage. The job also pays well apart from offering good commission or perks along with the standard pay. By taking up a course for a pharmacy technician, you would be able to ensure that you are the first choice for the employer than anyone else. This course can be done online in a period of six months or so, and upon completion can qualify you to be come one of the most eligible persons to get a job as a pharmacy technician.

28Dec/11Off

The Best Translation Service

Cambodia Translation ServicesWhen choosing the best translation services there are about two rules or guidelines that you need to look at. First is whether they can handle the kind of service that you need or require. Do they have people that specialize in the language that you want. If they do have one, what are the characteristics of them and will it pass your standards. Make sure that they are efficient and proficient in this kind of job because if they are not it would be pointless to even think of getting their service. Next important thing to remember when choosing one is to always check their background. You wouldn't want to hire someone who has a bad record, right? Lastly is to check your instinct. If you feel that something is wrong and things are too good to be true then maybe it really is and you should trust your instinct and do what you think is right.

28Dec/11Off

Peru Spanish Schools and Other Sights to See

There are many other things you can do as you study a foreign language in a foreign country. You don't have to be confined to your weekdays in school. Since the lessons won't take all day and your weekends are always free, you can do some exploring and sightseeing away from the Peru Spanish schools where you mostly stay during the week. It's a good idea to conduct some research or ask around for the nice local spots you can visit before you plan on visiting them. That way, you wouldn't have to waste time searching for some good places and awesome activities to do. A few of the places you may want to go out of you way to see are the southern beaches, pre-Incan ruins, the jungle, and Cusco to visit the Machu Picchu which is one of the great wonders of the world. Your traveling and extra-curricular activities would also help you improve your conversational skills along the way.

3Dec/11Off

Cultural Diversity of Kazakhstan

Also, Ukraine is offering Cuba There are some people who are hesitant to visit Kazakhstanbecause they do not really know anything about this country but then once they will be able to read this article then it will definitely change their minds. This country is officially called as the Republic of Kazakhstan. People here are called Kazakhstani. They are fluent in the use of their official languages which is Kazakh and Russian. It may be hard to communicate with these locals but nothing is impossible in talking to people.

When you go to their capital city Astana, you will see that they have good write ups in their newspapers. One of the famous papers they have is known as Gazeta wherein they write a lot about their own country. These people are very nationalistic and they truly love their country. Kapabah is also another newspaper together with Kazinform- National Information Agency. These newspapers will help you fully understand their country.

2Dec/11Off

Successful Homework Help Methods for Troubled Teens

Teenagers are a notoriously fickle segment of the population and trying to encourage them to work hard in school will often be quite problematic. In this instance hiring a homework help tutor who has experience in the field will often prove to be a great boost to their performance in school. The best tutors for a teenager with behavioural problems will often be those who have previously worked in education, and will have an innovative approach to inspiring the individuals.

Another problem that many parents will find when they are trying to ensure their children get the best education is actually persuading them to do their homework. It can often be necessary to make sure that the homework help will have an appointment with the teenager shortly after they come home from school, otherwise many young people will try and avoid having to do such work by going out to see friends.

19Nov/11Off

Qualities Physical Therapy Assistant Should Have

Physical therapy is a job that needs tact and patience. The hands on job can be quite demanding and might call for ingenuity as well as physical strength. There are patients who are not very cooperative and who will go to any lengths to avoid the exercises. Physical therapist assistant is the person who has to make him understand, motivate, encourage and maneuver a patient to be accommodating, for his or her own good.

Physical therapist assistants require good interpersonal skills and interaction ability with patients fast. It is important that the patient should trust the assistant who helps him to get better. Once the trust is gained, the patient will be easier to deal with and will oblige to the advices of the assistants advice, care and supervision. This will help in effective and faster completion of the treatment. Though Physical therapist assistant works according to the requirements of a physical therapist, a certain degree of autonomy is granted to the assistant.

14Nov/11Off

Things to Know About Medical Assistant Schools

Medical Assistant Schools are institutions that provide students with either onsite or online programs on medical assisting careers.

Medical Assistant Schools lead students towards exciting health care professions such as dental assistant, medical office manager, ultrasound technician, radiologist and nursing to highlight but a few.

These schools ensure students the competent in the medical assisting professions especially in the modern competitive world. The degree and certificate in medical assisting field are only offered in such medical schools.

It is very vital for individuals to ensure the schools they enrol in are accredited by the necessary commissions to ascertain you are nationally certified upon graduation.

Such commissions include the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Did you know that the assisting schools also offer other associates degrees? Now you know. They offer programs relate to medical assistant jobs such as anatomy, pharmacology, and medical terminology among others.

5Nov/11Off

Choose Good Schools for Ultrasound Technician Studies

If you are planning to pursue a career in the medical field and if you are good with technology, there is no better field than the ultrasound technology field. It is one of the best fields where you get well-paid and also has the scope of improving your knowledge by taking higher courses to get a better salary. Ultrasound technician schools are there in every country, but make sure that they are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

In USA, there are plenty of schools accredited. The George Washington University Medical Center located at Washington DC, the University Of Missouri School Of Health Professionals, the Floridas St. Vincents Schools f Medical Science, etc are all schools which provide good courses in the field. There are also other schools which are as good as this and provide the schools with excellent opportunities to excel themselves in the field.

21Oct/11Off

My Mother’s Illness

When my mother suddenly became ill the day before Thanksgiving, everyone was worried. We knew it was probably something minor, but we didn't want her to miss Thanksgiving. She spent a long time cooking and preparing for it, and it would be sad for her to miss it. However, overnight, she seemed to get sicker and sicker. We had no choice but to take her to the hospital. The first nurse we had said that becoming a nurse was one of the best things she'd ever done with her life, since she could help nice people like my mom. After she got checked out by the doctor, it turned out that she was just severely dehydrated. She had been working so hard on Thanksgiving the last few days that she'd forgotten to take care of herself at the same time! They gave her some IV fluids, monitored her, and sent her home.

19Oct/11Off

Tips on How to Memorize Things

Have your cholesterol level checked. If it is high, it will block the arteries and prevent blood from getting into the brain. This can hamper your memory. Also remember that medications may lead to memory problems. If you suspect it's due to medication, stop taking it.

Your diet should also be rich in iron. Research shows that iron is a useful memory aid and enhances brain function. You should also engage the brain by playing games that forces it to think. Computer strategy games improve your ability to analyze situations. You can also improve your ability to remember by playing word games.

You can even make some up yourself like memorizing the appearance of objects. How well you can concentrate is another important factor. Set aside a few minutes each day to augment your concentration. You can also try meditating in a quiet place. You will reap the benefits of this activity if you practice every day.