Thoughts on the The Medieval Era

Habib the author of the text, made a strong connection of the Church to that of the Medieval Times. In the first few pages of the chapter, I found it interesting the importance and influence Christianity played in the government, social class, commerce, order, education and even layed a foundation for Feudalism. The Church promoted and dominated ideas and values to that of the Empire such as moral values, leadership, and appropriate conduct. Literature during the Medieval time incorporated many of the values listed above and tied them into ideas of classical thought. The Church used literature in ways to press issues like salvation, preparation, and to continue classical philosophy.
Augustine, a christian thinker, influenced those of Roman and Protestant thought. His strategy was to combine classical thought and literature to Christian morals and purposes. Augustine believed that philosophy had a place in wisdom, but insisted reason promoted the understanding of faith and God. He believed that pride was one of the main reasons for sin. One of the key points Augustine made was that while he didn't oppose human's free will, he believed human decisions and actions had a sufficient cause. People are not chosen to heaven based on their goodness but for unknown reasons.
Lastly, I think one of the most important pieces of this chapter deals with signs and figurative language. Augustine believes that figurative expression should "not be taken literally." He says that that what is taken literally must be taken figurative and that figurative langauge is an expression and needs to be understood. Figurative language is supposed to make someone look through things, taking them as signs of a symbolic level.