On St. Augustine's Confessions
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Like this article mentions, you get to see Augustine's view of God change throughout Confessions, from master (rules, rules, rules--no fun) to lover through a deeper understanding of grace, a lot like my own journey. Augustine has been a huge instrument for me in developing a correct view of God through his great arguments/debates and by introducing me to reformed doctrine (which you will come in contact with if you search Augustine's writings enough).
I love the quote from his conversion after reading Romans 13:
> No further would I read, […] nor had I any need; instantly at the end of this sentence, a clear light flooded my heart and all the darkness of doubt vanished away.
Anyways, like I said, I'm really happy to see this posted here. I'm interested in seeing where the discussion goes.
for $3
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Ante-Nicene-Post-Nicene-Fath...
I'm most interested right now in The City of God due to the context/thesis being relevant today. As a teenager I switched to Buddhism (20 or so years ago) but have gained new interest in my Catholic upbringing as I was finding it hard to relate to Buddhism and its history. Culturally it was different from my own and I always had a feeling of being an outsider/imposter.
Most of HN and others who are in educated professions appear to dismiss religion though I've come to find it as a guiding principal and cultural history - Western Civilization is built on Christianity, Catholcism for a larger portion.
Currently in the US we are losing our sense cultural understanding, in my opinion, and wish for the government to set laws and regulations on everything. The freedoms set forth in the first amendment give us the freedom to guide our lives as we see fit, religion filling the moral and spiritual need in our lives. The libertarian in me agrees with the freedom but to ensure others are given the same freedom as long we do no harm to others - nor should we judge or force our beliefs onto others.
Now I understand that certain groups haven't experienced the same freedoms as others but is that religions fault? I would say no, and offer the perspective of culture. Simple cultural norms bring us together. I live in the PNW and have a beard, I know if I were to back to New Orleans where I'm from a beard would be viewed differently causing issues with employment. This is a simple and harmless is example that isn't a non-issue compared to others.
Overall I'm excited to begin the journey with the open mind of an adult.
Sorry for tangent and possible incoherent ramble - on my tablet.
I think a lot of us just keep our mouths shut due to the large amount of vitriol that results from any rational discussion of metaphysics or the supernatural :)
And to attempt to make a positive case for engagement, we really need a lot more of it. We need to be careful because people of various religious (and agnostic and atheist) persuasions see this fear of engagement as a dislike or even hate of their kind of people (not just the theology or lack thereof). I don't want anyone to feel like they have to live secret or closeted lives. And it's pretty obvious that the stratification of Western culture is causing a lot of real problems.
Does capitalism thrive if everyone in society reduces their wants, focusing more on their needs and being content with their current belongings? I would think so, though it would look much different with current economic measurements needing drastic revisions.
Is religious belief required to move society in this direction? Not necessarily. Though deep, open philosophical and theological discussion is required. Agnostics, atheists and religious individuals need to be able to discuss matters, find similarities in their beliefs - how they guide their lives.
Since the millennium we have all become aware of our differences, but not our similarities. Division consistently drives our lives which will increase the stratification of Western culture. A main area being reduced is Western Civilization history and thought. It would be hard to argue the United States was founded on ideas outside Western civilization which goes back to Greek and Roman thought, but this is now seen as a negative.
In the end we need to have open discussions, be aware of our history, both the positive and negative aspects and understand the negatives that happened in the US have happened all around the world and still occurring. In the end I believe spiritual discussion and reformation is required to reset society will maintaining freedom of religion being of the utmost importance.
>Currently in the US we are losing our sense cultural understanding
Season 1 of Sleepy Hollow has much commentary on this topic, from the perspective of a "lost founding father" who reawakens in modern day America.
The review does full justice to his subtlety. The Confessions are a really hard read, as you say, but worth the effort. I find it interesting that he flourished in a time that many consider the decline of classical civilization. His treatment of time for instance is the equal of anything I have read in Plato.
His latest would make an interesting basis for an "alternative history" of Monasticism ;)
Treasure in Heaven: The Holy Poor in Early Christianity
http://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/4867
From the description:
"Seen against the backdrop of Asia, Christianity might have opted for a Buddhist model by which holy monks lived by begging alone. Instead, the monks of Egypt upheld an alternative model that linked the monk to humanity and the monastery to society through acceptance of the common, human bond of work."
The latter half of the book is a bit trickier. Like the other commenter, his treatment of time was food for thought - not just for me but for philosophers and scientists for centuries to come. After finishing that chapter I got lost in Wikipedia learning more about it, eventually finishing with articles on general relativity (Augustine to Einstein... not what I expected from a 16 century old book).
Anyways, read Confessions. It's really worth it.
"Roberto Rossellini directed a string of biographies in the 1960s and early 70s, all of which revolved around famous historical figures (Christ, Pascal, Descartes, Socrates, St Francis, St Augustine, King Louis XIV, Giuseppe Garbaldi, and one unrealized project about Marx), and all of which utilized a sparse, stripped down aesthetic which revoked the pomp and pageantry typically ascribed to such characters."
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/06/19/how-st-augusti...
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Scholasticism
(If you get a paywall, pull up the link in a search engine and open it from there.)
You might be thinking: Scholasticism, Augustine, Britannica ... cannot possibly be engaging. I recommend the Enlightenment approach: Try it for yourself.