Shannon Costello

I know, I know, everyone was hoping I had finished, or forgotten, or something. Anything! But with the completion of Book Sixteenth I have only 299 pages left, so take heart!

Here is the most personally relevant quote: “Now every temptation is not blameworthy; it may even be praiseworthy, because it furnishes probation. And, for the most part, the human mind cannot attain to self-knowledge otherwise than by making trial of its powers through temptation, by some kind of experimental and not merely verbal self-interrogation…”

And by that rather painful process of probation we become fitted for eternity in the presence of God.

I enjoyed this one: “But as to the fable that there are Antipodes, that is to say, men on the opposite side of the earth, where the sun rises when it sets to us, men who walk with their feet opposite ours, that is on no ground credible…” There’s more, but if I had to read 500 pages to get there, it’s only fair that I encourage you to do the same! It’s interesting that he was pretty sure the earth was round- way back in the fifth century.

Finally, he was way too generous to Abraham, in my opinion. He excused Abraham for deceiving people about his wife (she’s my sister! really!), for having sex with Hagar (no passion, listening to Sarah, solely for the purpose of procreation), and for laughing at the idea of Sarah having a son (joyful wonderment, like Mary talking to Gabriel). Sarah’s laugh was a doubting laugh, though, so she doesn’t get pardoned. Not to knock Abraham too much- I’d like it if people could talk about my faith that way after I’m dead (even before!). Still, it is interesting to compare Augustine’s take on Hagar and Abraham (coming from a man who had a mistress for a long time before he was saved- you can see how that shapes his thoughts on sexual sin) with preachers today, who tend to talk about the dangers of trying to help God out instead of waiting on Him.