In Milan, Augustine struggles with Christianity as he listens to the sermons of Ambrose. He wants to meet with Ambrose and discuss Christianity at length with him, but Ambrose, a busy bishop, does not have the time, so Augustine listens to his sermons, which impresses him. He thinks through his problems with Christianity. He realizes that Christianity does not have to prove all its claims to him, and that he needs to trust, a form of faith. He thinks this is superior to the claims of Manicheanism, which claims it can prove all its claims, but he finds it really proves nothing. Augustine comes to realize that he believes most things by trust, a form of faith, and usually does not ask that everything be proven to him before he believes, so he reasons, why would he ask Christianity to do so.
Augustine mightly struggles with sexual pleasures during this time. He is amazed that a close friend has spurned sexual pleasure in order to pursue wisdom. Augustine is not sure whether to admire his friend or despise him. In any event, Augustine decides he must marry a respectable woman, and becomes engaged to a young girl which he must wait two years before he can marry her. Thus he decides he must send away the woman he has been living with, though he decides to keep the boy they have parented together. This breaks both her heart and his. However, despite his best efforts, he finds that he cannot keep away from another woman before he can marry his young bride to be. He knows God should punish him, wonders why God doesn't, and believes it is because of his mother's earnest prayers for him. All the while, it is clear that Augustine is drawing nearer to God, and getting more ready to make the commitment to become a Christian.
On to Book VII
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