Augustine’s skepticism as the critique of traditional religion

This chapter discusses the issue of traditional religion that breeds in family and environment, which is an inheritance that is passed down from generation to generation using doctrine and offers an alternative narrative to prevent it with doubt or skepticism, which in this study refers to Augustine’s skepticism from Augustine of Hippo. Religion is related to faith in God and other transcendent things, but the faith that is highlighted in this study is seen as a social phenomenon, not a spiritual one. Faith in the social aspect must be replaced by faith in the spiritual aspect so that the human souls transcend and reach God. This study also offers an alternative narrative in the form of skepticism of St Augustine. The subjective-idealistic thought of Augustine is seen as theological and fideistic in nature - a kind of revelation which one can find in any religion. This study refutes that view; it believes that Augustine relies on reason and sensory experience. Consequently, his outlook is philosophical, not theological. This study bases its refutation on Augustine’s biography which is filled with concrete situations. His early doubt in achieving the understanding of God is transformed into believing in God then. The journey to God is a spiritual one. It flowers from skepticism as its foundation. It means that skepticism is the vehicle to achieve the absolute truth. By being sceptic, the illumination that comes from God is cultivated into faith. The prime source of the wrongly faith is the traditional religion which is taken uncritically. Using heuristic method, this study finds novelty and alternative explanation in reading Augustine’s thought. Firstly, it finds that Augustine is not a fideist as is widely known. Secondly, skepticism is not as bad as people generally think when they relate it to religion; this study finds that skepticism is a preliminary stage in spirituality. Skepticism is a first step in one’s own mentality in transcending oneself for achieving God.