Interesting Info on Early Christianity - bio of Augustine

by Band on the Run 6 Replies latest social current

  • Band on the Run
    Band on the Run

    St. Augustine is very important to Christianity. He was bishop of Hippo in North Africa. His family was of the nobility so he was well-educated and had a Christian mother. He had dealings with Christians growing up but was Manichean. As my prof told us he was such a great Church Father b/c he was so worldly in his preChristian life. He had an illegitimate son that was acknowledged and loved. Sadly, his son died young. Through family and other social connections, he travelled to Rome and Milan to learn from the most important church officials. I read his Confessions when I was young. It was very impressive and well written. His big book was City of God but I had trouble reading it.

    The local library had his bio on a table so I picked it up to learn more about him. The author assumes you have Confessions memorized. Since the canon had not been established, it was interesting to read that everyone had different scriptures. He had Paul's letters, Psalms, the major prophets, and only the Gospel of John. John is so different from the other gospels. A neighboring bishop might not have access to John. He would have only Mark. Controversy was looming. Imagine if we all had different scriptures. An orthodoxy emerged. Christian fundamentals were clear. I never realized how discordant not having access to scripture would be. It helps me to understand the move towards the Creeds. I also recall reading that Jesus' scriptures did not include what we now call the Hebrew Scripture canon.

    Still reading and assuming whatever the Confessions text actually is. A three page synopsis would be great.

  • PSacramento
    PSacramento

    All of Augustines works are very good and you can pick them up at Amazon or any online book store I think.

  • botchtowersociety
    botchtowersociety

    St. Augustine's Confessions is the best place to get info on his life. It is widely considered to be the earliest autobiographical work ever written.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_(St._Augustine)

    You can buy the book, or read/download it online for free.

    http://www.ccel.org/a/augustine/confessions/confessions.html

  • Band on the Run
    Band on the Run

    I read Confessions decades ago. Prob. most of Confessions is available on the Internet. Since this is not a school project, I just think it would be nice if author and publisher presented a short summary. If I had no read Confessions, I could not understand 95% of the book. I am not good at memorization but Augustine wrote of his struggles with giving up an active and frequent sexual life. He overemphasized celibacy for Christians. Did he not write famously - God deliver me from my sins, but not yet."

    It was decades ago but it struck me as so contemporary. Everyone laughs. There is also respect for acknowledging that humans are not automatons. He mastered his desire. I did not think Romans/Roman culture would be so sophisticated. Also, it is so succint.

  • botchtowersociety
  • Band on the Run
    Band on the Run

    Thank you. I will assume "Google is your friend" is similar to a football chant than correction for not Googling. You are right. Not every casual interest needs an extensive google hit list.

    Thanks.

  • botchtowersociety
    botchtowersociety

    I didn't mean it that way, BOTR.

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