1. The Duality of Human Nature: Augustine emphasized the inherent tension between the body and soul, the earthly and the divine. He believed humans are both physical beings subject to sin and spiritual beings capable of grace and love. This duality made understanding human nature a challenging and multifaceted endeavor.
2. Free Will and Sin: Augustine grappled with the concept of free will, recognizing its role in both good and evil. Humans were capable of choosing God, but also of falling into sin. This freedom and its inherent vulnerability created a paradox at the heart of the human experience.
3. The Fall of Man: Augustine believed that humanity's original state of grace was lost through the Fall, causing a deep-seated corruption that made understanding our true nature even more difficult. The concept of original sin added another layer of mystery to human existence.
4. The Nature of Grace: Augustine explored the relationship between human nature and divine grace, arguing that humans were fundamentally incapable of attaining salvation without God's intervention. He saw grace as a mystery, an undeserved gift that transformed the flawed human heart.
5. The Unknown Future: Augustine emphasized the uncertainty of life and the mysteries surrounding death and the afterlife. The unknown nature of what comes after death added to the mystery of human existence.
Conclusion:
While not explicitly calling man a "great mystery," Augustine's writings extensively explored the complexities and paradoxes inherent in human nature. The duality of body and soul, the struggle between free will and sin, the fall from grace, the mystery of divine grace, and the unknown future all contributed to his understanding of human existence as a profound and challenging mystery.