The Augustinian Friars in Britain

Our Hearts are Restless until they Rest in You, Lord

Jacob Choi PhD

On 30 June, Jacob Choi OSA was conferred as PhD at Durham University.

His thesis was entitled ‘Augustinian Interiority: A Teleological Deification of the Soul through Divine Grace’ and was completed under the supervision of Professor Carol Harrison.

 

Congratulations, Jacob!

 

A summary of the summary of the thesis:

 

Augustinian interiority does not concern itself with where to go in search of God.  We journey—with our mind and heart—towards or away from God.  We must strive to know God with passion if we are to become like him (deification); otherwise we will continue to be preoccupied with material things.

 

There are two ways of knowing God, through reason and faith.

 

We can know something about God by means of reason through observing His creation.  The human soul—being the closest in resemblance to God—is the most important part of God’s creation.  First of all we must turn inwards to the soul for self-knowledge; afterwards we must try to understand God on the basis of self-knowledge; this is what Augustine does in Book 10 of the Confessions.

 

Few people are capable of knowing God by means of reason.  The majority of us must rely on faith.  It helps to free ourselves from material, earthly things.  Carnal Catholics have faith but no understanding or action, but spiritual Catholics strive to understand what they believe.  Books 11-13 of the Confessions and De Trinitate are examples of what he means by spiritual Catholics.

Inwards to the soul for self-knowledge; afterwards we must try to understand God on the basis of self-knowledge; this is what Augustine does in Book 10 of the Confessions.

 

Few people are capable of knowing God by means of reason.  The majority of us must rely on faith.  It helps free us free ourselves from material, earthly things.  Carnal Catholics have faith but no understanding or action, but spiritual Catholics strive to understand what they believe.  Nooks 11-13 of the Confessions and De Trinitate are examples of what he means by spiritual Catholics.