Final answer:
According to St. Augustine, life on earth is a sacred gift and a journey towards spiritual salvation, involving suffering that serves to detach from earthly desires and focus on the spiritual.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to St. Augustine of Hippo, a prominent theologian and philosopher, life on earth has a complex and nuanced nature. In Augustine's view, life on earth is not the ultimate end but rather a journey towards the eternal city of God. Augustine asserts that material existence and earthly pleasures are secondary to the pursuit of spiritual salvation and the heavenly realm. He suggests that life is a sacred gift that should not be wasted, as it is the path to divine understanding and eternal life in the City of God.
One aspect of Augustine's philosophy is that earthly life is meant to be suffered and endured; however, this suffering is not without purpose, as it helps believers to detach from earthly desires and focus on the spiritual. In this context, the choices we make, the wisdom we follow, and the trials we endure all serve to refine our souls for the heavenly afterlife. Augustine believed that the fall of the Roman Empire was less significant in the grand scheme of salvation history.
Therefore, while Augustine acknowledges that life involves suffering, he also views it as an opportunity for growth and preparation for the heavenly calling. Augustine would likely consider that multiple aspects of the options given are correct: life on earth is a path to moving beyond suffering (B), a series of aspects of behaving right or wisely (C), and an integration of these aspects (D, all of the above).