Saint Augustine's intellectual and spiritual journey to understanding God was influenced by philosophical tendencies, Biblical Scriptures and personal experiences. Since Augustine did not believe any of these viewpoints completely, he spent most of his life searching for other types of truths that would resolve his doubts. Augustine went through a dark intellectual period in his life, in which he was sinful and lustful. During this time, he believed that God existed but was too weak to give up all of the pleasures to live the life of a Christian. Throughout his life, Augustine pursued many arguments, like Neo Platonism and Manichaeism, which led him to understand his true views about God. Ultimately, he recognized and converted to the truth of Christianity, and was able to find God.
During his early life and adolescence, Augustine committed selfish sins of the flesh, and therefore disregarded God's law. These acts were due to a misdirection of God's gifts, which is what most people do when they sin. Augustine committed crimes like stealing and having sexual encounters because he was trying to fulfill his desires. However, it was not until later on in his life that he realized that the highest good or desire one wants is God. Augustine's understanding of this concept was similar to Plato's. Plato's conception of the highest good is based on the ascent from lesser goods to what is best of all. Augustine believed the trajectory to God went from lesser goods until you finally reached him. He argued that humans could only find peace when they reunited with God "our heart is restless until it rests in you " (Saint Augustine, Confessions, Chapter I, pg. 3). Neo Platonists believe God's creation has shifted from eternity to fit the material world. Augustine uses this view to understand God, and how one can be foolish enough to commit selfish and sinful acts. .
Augustine became interested in the philosopher Cicero, and was introduced to his book Hortensius, which tries to prove that philosophy is not useless and that it does not lead to unhappiness.
