Shannon Costello

I confess:  reading just about anything else is easier than Augustine!

There is a fuzzy line between defending one’s own views and questioning the views of one’s opponents.   I’m not certain when and to what extent the latter is inappropriate, but that is something I’ve wondered straight from Book First.   It is a question whose answer I hope will become clearer to me as I progress through this work.

Augustine questions the assumptions of his opponents.  He suggests that bigger is not necessarily better- that a smaller, happier kingdom might be better than Rome.  He questions the efficacy of the Roman hierarchy of Gods.  Given how little power Jupiter had over the other gods, does it make sense to assume he was powerful enough to grant victory to Rome?

I wouldn’t dare oppose Augustine (because I would get squooshed), but I find him questioning some of my assumptions as well.  I have so far been unable to so completely forget the pain and difficulty of trials and troubles that all that is left for me is a view of the eternal, spiritual benefit.  Augustine’s almost automatic ability to do this pushes me to re-think my attitude.