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felipebarnabe's review against another edition
3.0
Confissões é um clássico, sem dúvida. Motivo suficiente para justificar a leitura.
Porém, acho o texto cansativo. Não é um livro que me agrada ler.
A primeira vez em que li, em 2018, esperava algo mais filosófico e/ou teológico, mas a maior parte do texto é biográfico. Talvez essa frustração com o conteúdo tenha me feito não gostar tanto do livro na época.
Na segunda leitura, li com mais atenção. Percebi trechos teológicos e filosóficos muito interessantes que passaram batido na primeira leitura. Provavelmente, por falta de conteúdo que me ajudasse a identificar o que estava sendo tratado. Estou longe de ser um entendido de Agostinho, teologia ou filosofia. Mas consegui identificar no texto alguns resquícios de filosofia helenística e antiga, algo comum na patrística, apesar de Agostinho já apresentar indicações de distanciamento desse pensamento. Uma advertência que me fizeram quando iniciei as leituras na patrística e que tenho percebido ser muito útil é para não ler os livros da patrística como livros canônicos. Com Agostinho, parece que essa tendência é maior. Mas, apesar de excelentes autores e com reflexões teológicas e filosóficas muito importantes para a fé, esses textos não possuem a prerrogativa de canonicidade. Com isso em mente, fica mais fácil criticar partes do texto que acabam incorporando o pensamento filosófico da época.
No geral, a obra pode ser dividido em 2 partes. Os livros I a X cobrem grande parte da vida de Agostinho e sua história de conversão. Alguns trechos são muito bonitos e mostram a grande devoção de Agostinho a Deus. Os livros de XI a XIII são mais teológicos e filosóficos. Agostinho faz uma interpretação do início de Gênesis e discute algumas teorias filosóficas correntes em sua época. Gostei mais dessa segunda parte.
Porém, acho o texto cansativo. Não é um livro que me agrada ler.
A primeira vez em que li, em 2018, esperava algo mais filosófico e/ou teológico, mas a maior parte do texto é biográfico. Talvez essa frustração com o conteúdo tenha me feito não gostar tanto do livro na época.
Na segunda leitura, li com mais atenção. Percebi trechos teológicos e filosóficos muito interessantes que passaram batido na primeira leitura. Provavelmente, por falta de conteúdo que me ajudasse a identificar o que estava sendo tratado. Estou longe de ser um entendido de Agostinho, teologia ou filosofia. Mas consegui identificar no texto alguns resquícios de filosofia helenística e antiga, algo comum na patrística, apesar de Agostinho já apresentar indicações de distanciamento desse pensamento. Uma advertência que me fizeram quando iniciei as leituras na patrística e que tenho percebido ser muito útil é para não ler os livros da patrística como livros canônicos. Com Agostinho, parece que essa tendência é maior. Mas, apesar de excelentes autores e com reflexões teológicas e filosóficas muito importantes para a fé, esses textos não possuem a prerrogativa de canonicidade. Com isso em mente, fica mais fácil criticar partes do texto que acabam incorporando o pensamento filosófico da época.
No geral, a obra pode ser dividido em 2 partes. Os livros I a X cobrem grande parte da vida de Agostinho e sua história de conversão. Alguns trechos são muito bonitos e mostram a grande devoção de Agostinho a Deus. Os livros de XI a XIII são mais teológicos e filosóficos. Agostinho faz uma interpretação do início de Gênesis e discute algumas teorias filosóficas correntes em sua época. Gostei mais dessa segunda parte.
silent_layla's review against another edition
4.0
Read for school. Augustine is a really great writer, first off, second off its amazing to see how such pivotal values of the Christian Church came from him
drleary's review against another edition
4.0
Parts of this book have stuck with me every day since reading them!! But other parts I very much got lost in the weeds with. There’s just so much to unpack. I do think it is so fascinating that the issues Augustine writes about from centuries ago seem to be some of the same issues talked about today.
drewpypoopy's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
kiwis_'s review against another edition
3.0
Had to read this for an assignment, so I’m counting it towards my reading goal. Historically it’s interesting, Augustine applies an amalgamation of philosophy and Christian doctrines to create his odyssey the Confessions. Through candid accounts of his life he seeks to reconcile with his identity, it’s kind of like the medieval Christian fight club in that sense. 3/5
imbrenda's review against another edition
5.0
Astonishingly modern in outlook for the 400s. A call for redemption though God and the Catholic Church.
paperrhino's review against another edition
3.0
Saint Augustine's Confessions is one of the most influential writings in the western canon. It is unique in that is is one of the only autobiographies that survives from the ancient world and the theology of Augustine has infused western Christianity. However, it is a difficult book to read.
The first part of the book consists of a retelling of key points in Augustine's life from birth through his eventual conversion. The decision as to which parts of his life to present I believe were driven primarily by Augustine's desire to make theological points. In particular the episodes of infancy, the stealing of the pears, and the baptism and death of his very close friend. His experiences with Manicheism also provides some hint as to some of his more strict points of theology presented in his other works, particularly in regards to sex.
The second part of the book is a philosophical and theological treatise on the origins of the universe as revealed by Genesis. This section reveals what expertise in rhetoric and argumentation Augustine possessed and I believe he was a formidable debater, intellectual, and philosopher. However, he does make some logical leaps in his arguments which I found to be less than satisfying. For example, he spends several pages discussing how he found sections in the writings of Mani which do not correspond with reality and his quest to have this error resolved ultimately lead him to conversion. However, when it comes time for him to really discuss the weaknesses in Manicheism he only focuses on the fact that it does not include Jesus. While this is understandable in a work which is primarily a confession of faith in Christianity, it does not adequately explain what it was about Manicheism that made him dissatisfied with it before he became a Christian. I can only surmise from the focus of the bulk of the book that Mani's explanations for the origins of the universe is the cause but Augustine never makes this clear.
Over all, I don't know if I would recommend this book to any but the most die hard readers of the western canon. I did not find it to be the most enjoyable read though I did find it interesting and enlightening for Augustine the man and an example of ancient rhetoric at work.
The first part of the book consists of a retelling of key points in Augustine's life from birth through his eventual conversion. The decision as to which parts of his life to present I believe were driven primarily by Augustine's desire to make theological points. In particular the episodes of infancy, the stealing of the pears, and the baptism and death of his very close friend. His experiences with Manicheism also provides some hint as to some of his more strict points of theology presented in his other works, particularly in regards to sex.
The second part of the book is a philosophical and theological treatise on the origins of the universe as revealed by Genesis. This section reveals what expertise in rhetoric and argumentation Augustine possessed and I believe he was a formidable debater, intellectual, and philosopher. However, he does make some logical leaps in his arguments which I found to be less than satisfying. For example, he spends several pages discussing how he found sections in the writings of Mani which do not correspond with reality and his quest to have this error resolved ultimately lead him to conversion. However, when it comes time for him to really discuss the weaknesses in Manicheism he only focuses on the fact that it does not include Jesus. While this is understandable in a work which is primarily a confession of faith in Christianity, it does not adequately explain what it was about Manicheism that made him dissatisfied with it before he became a Christian. I can only surmise from the focus of the bulk of the book that Mani's explanations for the origins of the universe is the cause but Augustine never makes this clear.
Over all, I don't know if I would recommend this book to any but the most die hard readers of the western canon. I did not find it to be the most enjoyable read though I did find it interesting and enlightening for Augustine the man and an example of ancient rhetoric at work.