My Fellow Searchers,
In Books 1-3 the narrator argues that God is all-encompassing and
perfect, and even claims that babies sin despite their lack of
self-awareness. This is contradicted in Book 5, section 10, when he
states that "It still seemed... that it is not we who sin, but some
other nature within us that is responsible". How can it be that it is
not the person who sins, but something inside of the person, even though
God is supposedly in everything? It seems to me that the narrator is arguing that either God is
responsible for our sins or that everyone inherently has evil within themselves, which contradicts the claim that everything that God creates is perfect and good. Such a bold claim shows just how much the narrator had changed from the point in his life when he made this claim and when he wrote The Confessions, because he goes from having essentially unchristian views to being a very righteous and religiously proper Bishop. Now that you know my thoughts on this quotation I would like to ask what each of you what your reactions were?
I agree with you completely. While reading this book, I thought a few things that were being said were contradicting things that were said in earlier books. I believe that the change in the thoughts is because Augustine has changed so much throughout his lifetime.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that he has some very contradictory ideas. I think the fact of the matter is that people want to believe everything god creates is god but its nearly impossible to reconcile that notion with the very obvious evil in the world.
ReplyDeleteWhen he says it is not we who sins I think he may be talking about habit that just becomes unconscious. Through habit people are good and bad. I think he is arguing that when we become bad people through habit we aren't necessarily intending to do bad consciously, it is just an unconscious action and therefore not "us".
ReplyDeleteThis is a difficult concept to grasp because on one hand their is the idea that God is all knowing and all powerful, and that he creates all that is good, but one must also explain how it is possible that there is suffering in the world if god only creates that which is good, and if God creates everything. I would love to hear others' thoughts on this idea.
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