reading augustine

1. Reading Augustine�s ConfessionsTCC IAP 2008 Dr. Ann Orlando

2. Outline Why Read Augustine? Augustine�s Life and Works Introduction to Confessions Background on Books I - IV

3. Importance of Augustine To Western Theology and Philosophy Cannot Be Overstated For Western Christianity, he is the most important theologian from this period Arguably the most important theologian from any period Every serious Western theologian after Augustine must in some way �deal� with Augustine

4. Critical and Defining Issues for Augustine Theodicy Epistemology Sacraments Theology of Trinity Ecclesiology Justification Primacy of love

5. Examples Augustine was the standard for doctrinal truth and theological method throughout the Middle Ages Aquinas (13th C) runs into trouble because He seems to abandon Augustine�s theological method (Neoplatonism) for Aristotelianism But also because of primacy of intellect over will Open any page of ST and see number of references to Augustine Renaissance begins when Petrarch reads Confessions Luther and Calvin claim Augustine for themselves in opposition to Scholasticism Galileo tries to defend himself using Augustine (especially the Confessions) Early Modernity rejects Augustine�s definition of man as part of society Hobbes Locke Enlightenment rejection of Christianity is specifically a rejection of Augustine Rousseau Voltaire Diderot Existentialists of 20th C continue campaign specifically against Augustine; Albert Camus The Plague Charles Freeman, The Closing of the Western Mind Recent new translations of and �popular� interest in Augustine: New City Press; J.J. O�Donnell, Garry Wills Pope Benedict XVI has defined himself, and is often referred to as, an Augustinian theologian

6. Brief Biographical Sketch Born near Carthage in 354 to a devoutly Catholic mother (St. Monica) and worldly father (Patrick) In youth leads a life of pleasure searching for happiness Flirts with Manichaeism Becomes enamored with Platonism (Plotinus) Conversion to Catholic Christianity Ordained priest 391, bishop of Hippo 395 Died on 28 August 430 Peter Brown�s book Augustine of Hippo remains the most important biography of Augustine in English Be sure to get the New Edition with Epilogue Discusses discovery of 12 previously unstudied letters and sermons of Augustine (396-404)

7. What did Augustine Look Like? Augustine being baptized by Benozzo Gozzoli http://www.wf-f.org/StAugustine.html Metropolitan Museum of Art http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/05/afe/ho_18.9.2.htm

8. Augustine�s Works Augustine�s friend and biographer, Possidius, catalogued Augustine's works after his death and observed that no one would be able to read them all Among the vitally important works Against the Academics On Free Will Confessions On the Trinity City of God On Christian Teaching Retractions concerning On Free Will Nearly innumerable letters, treatises, homilies, commentaries Commentary, expositions, sermons on Psalms

9. Introduction to Confessions Written shortly after Augustine was named bishop of Hippo (395-398) Written at the request of his friend Paulinus of Nola; 11 years after his baptism It is Augustine the bishop reflecting in middle age on events in his youth; It is not telling the story of his youth; it is a reflection May have been written as a defense against charge that Augustine was still a Manichean Became an instant best seller

10. Confessions as Prayer Confessio: both �accusation of oneself and praise for God� Sermon 67.2 It is first and foremost a prayer, not an autobiography; The work is addressed to God There should be an AMEN at end of Book XIII

11. Which Translation Should You Read? Henry Chadwick, Oxford University Press, 1991 Mary Boulding, New City Press, 1997 But please do not use translation available on the Web. It is very turgid, plotting Victorian English.

12. Structure Division of 13 Books is Augustine�s division Usually considered in two parts: Augustine�s past (I-IX) Augustine's present (X-XIII) NB: The last 4 books (Part 2) are an integral part of the whole

13. Structure of Part 1 Can be viewed as a chiasm Book I: From God; birth and relationship of infant with mother Book II: Bondage of Flesh Book III: Slavery of eyes and mind; problem of evil Book IV Ambition of World Book V Encounter with Faustus, Manichaeism, philosophy; moving from Carthage to Rome Book VI: Recognition of emptiness of world�s ambition Book VII: Freedom of mind; resolution of problem of evil Book VIII: Liberation from bondage of flesh Book IX: Relation to Monica, her death, return to God

14. Structure of Part 2 Book X: Augustine the Bishop at the end of his reflection on his youth, meditates on Memory and knowledge Sin Book XI: Augustine the Bishop meditates on �In the beginning� What is Time Book XII: Augustine the Bishop meditates on �God created the heavens and the earth� How to interpret Scripture and authorial intent Book XIII: Augustine the Bishop meditates on Trinity Church NB: Augustine uses the word �confessions� more often in these last four than the previous nine books

15. Program for Next Three Sessions Discuss Books I � IV on Monday, Jan 14 Discuss Books V-VIII on Monday, Jan 21 Discuss Books IX- X, selections of XI Jan 28 The Monday before each discussion Lecture a bit on some of the background helpful in reading for the next week Suggest themes to look for in reading

16. Background for Books I - IV Late Antiquity and the Roman Empire Political situation Philosophical schools Status of Catholic Church Most potent heresy of 4th Century: Arianism Books of the Bible The New Religion of the Period: Manichaeism Problem of theodicy

17. Map of Roman Empirewww.fsmitha.com/h1/map18rm.htm

18. Social Situation Fourth Century One of THE most important events in history happens in 4th Century: conversion of Roman Empire to Christianity At the beginning of the Fourth Century, worst persecution of Christians (Emperor Diocletian) Constantine the Great attributes his victory at the Milvian Bridge (312) in Rome to Christianity After Constantine, large numbers of people become Christians By the end of the century, Christianity declared official religion of Roman Empire by Theodosius the Great (381)

19. Political and Military Situation At beginning of 4th Century, Empire united under Diocletian and Constantine Throughout 4th Century civil wars among Constantine�s sons and successors Theodosius the Great reunites the Empire Last Emperor of �entire� Roman Empire Barbarian invasions begin in West late 4th C, key moment is sack of Rome in 410 Empire become divided East (capitol, Constantinople) and West (capitol, Rome) Western Roman Empire ceases to exist 476 Eastern Roman Empire ceased to exist 1453

20. Status of Catholic Church In this period, no distinction between Catholic (West) and Orthodox (East) Becomes �politically expedient� to join Church Most potent Christian heresy: Arianism Belief that Christ was made by Father; not divine as Father is divine Council of Nicea (325) called to combat Arianism; Creed By end of 4th Century Arianism no longer a threat within Roman Empire Another dangerous heresy: Donatism Prevalent in 4th Century North Africa Believed in strict Christian discipline Efficacy of sacraments depended on holiness of minister Augustine was main foe of Donatists

21. Bible Prior to 4th Century, many different views within Christianity about what is sacred scripture Old Testament in or out? Some wanted to reject Old Testament completely God seems angry, vengeful, anthropomorphic Notion develops that creator god is evil and opposed to spiritual good god Which books of New Testament? Some want to severely restrict books, some want to include other books How to interpret the Bible, especially the Old Testament (more on this next week) Literally Allegorically

22. Manichaeism Founded by Mani, Persian, mid-Third Century Mani saw himself as the incarnation of the Holy Spirit Established a new religion that was a potent mix of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Hinduism Mani killed by Persians in 276 AD Key belief: try to solve theodicy problem (how can there be a good creator God, and suffering and evil) with 2 gods Material world evil, creator god evil Spiritual world good Fully initiated Manichaeans led austere lives Vegetarians Chaste Completely rejected material Many people become Manichean �hearers� or catechumens Reputation for being elite, intellectual

23. Partial Glossary of People and Things in Books I - IV Plato (d. 347 BC): Greek philosopher, student of Socrates; wrote many famous dialogs; emphasis on reality beyond material Aristotle (d. 322 BC): Greek philosopher, student of Plato; emphasis on empiricism, logic; what can be known about observed reality Cicero (d. 43 BC): Orator (lawyer, politician), very influential Latin treatises; known for elegant use of language Virgil (d. 17 BC): Roman poet who tells the story of the founding of Rome by Trojan Aeneas after fall of Troy Story of Aeneas and Dido: Found in Virgil; Aeneas loves and leaves Dido on his way to found Rome after Trojan War Seneca (d. 65 AD): Roman Stoic philosopher Plotinus (d. 270 AD): mid-Third Century philosopher, founder of Neoplatonism, very influential on Augustine (more next week) Greek: The universal language (not Latin) across the Roman Empire; exceptions are laws and military administration in Latin

24. Some Things To Look For As you Read Are babies cute and innocent? What might this imply about human nature? How do friends effect our actions? Why doesn�t Augustine like the Old Testament? Where does he think he will find happiness? How is Augustine �modern�? Notice that he is always asking questions

25. Two Web Resources Three Volume Commentary (Latin text, English descriptions) on Confessions by JJ O�Donnell, http://www.stoa.org/hippo/ Online Cliff Notes, http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/St-Augustine-s-Confessions.id-166,pageNum-1.html