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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
This compilation of a number of Augustine's letters and sermons was published back in 2001 as one of the "Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought". Obviously though, this was not written in the recent past. Augustine lived in the 4th/5th centuries AD and is widely known by many people for being one of the greatest early church theologians. I enjoyed reading this work and appreciated the fact that a couple of scholars put this together not from a Christian perspective, but from a scholarly perspective, attempting to discern Augustine's thoughts on politics (or rather, civil authority and its out-workings). Augustine himself I must confess I do not know well. Yes, he was a bishop in the early church, prominent in North Africa and widely influential in his day...but beyond that? I do not know as much as I should. I need to read more of him and this first glimpse at his writings convinces me that further reading of him will be most profitable. This book itself is a fascinating look at the man, because the bulk of it is personal letters written from Augustine to various personages. This more personal look into Augustine's thoughts was much enjoyed and even though I didn't agree with everything Augustine wrote, my soul was blessed by this book. Some of the things I found the most fascinating? Well, Augustine lived during the period when Rome was a nominally Christian empire. He lived after the time of Constantine and so the church had state support. This led to Augustine's view that the "conversion of the empire" to Christianity was fulfilling prophecies from the Old Testament that all the kings of the earth would come to adore Christ and submit themselves to Him. Indeed, a renewing of the world order and an alignment of the nations into the kingdom of God was something that Augustine expected and thought he was seeing taking place. Without getting into the somewhat dubious interpretations of Scripture Augustine was putting forth, I did enjoy reading how he thought as he lived in a Christian empire. What was the place of the state and what was the place of the church? He touches on some of these themes, but what's most interesting is that he doesn't write about these things in a vacuum - but he addresses real issues that were taking place in the surrounding areas (usually in his region of North Africa). I also was struck by Augustine's view of how the state should uphold the law and punish wrongdoers. In his mind, the goal of any criminal justice system should be primarily to deter others from practicing evil and to reform the individual responsible. Vengeance should never be the motivation and driver behind the punishment of a criminal. And indeed, Augustine often urged mercy. That for me is one of the biggest takeaways in this book. Augustine seemed to err on the side of mercy more often than not, simply because he wanted - if possible - the guilty party to change their ways and come to Christ. He was almost always against capital punishment - for indeed, how can the soul of the guilty party be saved if the man was executed? I have not always myself thought capital punishment is a great evil, but I am pondering this further and greatly appreciate Augustine's thoughts on this. Even when various Christians were tortured and persecuted and killed...Augustine pleaded for mercy for the perpetrators and said that the Christians did not want the guilty party to be treated as the Christians had been treated. But Augustine did also recognize that the state had the right and the authority and even the duty to maintain order - and so he does not oppose civil authority using its authority to punish wrongdoers. He simply urges mercy whenever possible. Let the man who is without sin throw the first stone. But yes, the state does not wield the sword for no reason. But...consider mercy!! Honestly, reading his thoughts on criminal justice made me consider our own criminal justice system in 21st century America and weep as I see how often we err on the side of harsh and prolonged punishment for those who do wrong. We so often have spirits full of vengeance and hatred, wanting to see wrongdoers get what they deserve. Oh let us consider mercy and compassion. Other notes? I've already gone on too long, but I also found it tragic when Augustine wrote to Rome for help and assistance fighting the rising systematization of the slave trade in Africa. He writes that the churches were doing all they could to buy slaves and then help them get somewhere safe...but that countless people were being kidnapped and shipped off as slaves. His view of slavery isn't quite the same as ours (we must allow for differences from the modern thought!), but his sorrow and emotion at the outrages he saw being perpetrated and the work the church was doing to fight back...all of this stirred my soul and made me most sad as I thought that these events in the 4th century AD were but a harbinger of the horrors to come. There is nothing new under the sun. Augustine also had a few thoughts and musings that I see as leading towards the future dogmas of the Roman Catholic church...the appropriate use of the power of the state to uphold and propagate Christianity being one. While Augustine mainly states that the state should use its power to protect Christians, there is also some language used that makes me quail a bit - i.e., words in the vein of, "If we want the souls of men to be saved, why would we not do whatever it takes, use any power at our disposal, to save their souls and fight against heretical and dangerous movements?" Reading words like these make me nervous for indeed the kingdom of Christ is not of this world. Someday, the kingdom of this world will be the kingdom of Christ. But it is not yet. The gospel should not be maintained at the point of the sword. Again, this gets back to Augustine's eschatological views, which I believe were (understandably) in error in a few points. Yes, the empire had become Christian in name. But did that mean that the kingdom of God was beginning to be further manifest in a physical, political way and that the power of the state should and must be used to fight against heretical outgrowths of the Church? Augustine also very much longed for the unity of the church and I understand a small bit of how his heart must have been breaking as he saw divisions in the church - what would he think if he could see the church now!? But unity cannot be enforced by rule of law. To move on...Augustine also had a most high view of celibacy, seeing it as superior to the state of marriage. He even advises this one Roman military commander that he was sad to see he got married...but hopeful that at some point him and his wife will come to see that celibacy is preferred and that they will live in that way in their marriage. Again, reading this made me nervous as I thought of the future of the church and the dangerous results that would come from false ideas around marriage and celibacy. But, no man is perfect, surely, and as great as Augustine is - by the grace of God - even he was not perfect in all things, as he would surely admit, resting in the love of God as he did! This book greatly encouraged me and I very much appreciated reading a book written by a Christian who lived long ago - I need to read more such books. They kick me out of my insular 21st century American bubble and make me consider the greater world in all its epochs. Yes, myself and Augustine lived in different times and places and in very different circumstances. Yet, we both worship and adore the same God. How great is that? Glad I read this work, need to read more Augustine.