Confessions (St. Augustine)

[karen freeinchristman]

We are reading Saint Augustine's Confessions currently in my course (Henry Chadwick's translation, Oxford World's Classics). So far I am really enjoying it. I had heard about it a lot (many times here in STR, in fact), but I didn't realise it would be so good to read.

I'm sure lots of others here have read it. If you have, what did you find remarkable about it?

I am amazed by the context in which he writes - and Henry Chadwick gives great explanations in the footnotes. But I guess it is Augustine's sheer honesty that I am most affected by!

If you haven't yet read it, then I recommend it!

[AngCath]

Confessions is required reading at my seminary in first semester ethics. A fantastic book that I recommend to everyone as well. "Unless you believe, you will not understand." I remember that line, but forget if that's in confessions or elsewhere.

[karen freeinchristman]

Confessions is required reading at my seminary in first semester ethics. A fantastic book that I recommend to everyone as well. "Unless you believe, you will not understand." I remember that line, but forget if that's in confessions or elsewhere.
Hmm, seems strange that it is required for 'ethics' - but then I am only up to book III so far. Looking in my course handbook, I see now that our ethics module is next autumn, 'Philosophy and Ethics'.

The module we're reading Confessions for now is 'Christian Tradition and Engagement with the World'.

[AngCath]

i guess i should have given the full name of the course, it is also "philosophy and ethics"

[Inside Edge]

I read Confessions many years ago, because one of my favourite authors' writings (Petrarch) are so heavily inspired, influenced, and sometimes dependent on Augustine's.

I found it (Confessions) a fantastic book, wonderfully insightful for the most part. However, I also found it (at times) rather self-indulgent or pretensious. Or at least, I could understand why some people felt it so, especially from a non-or-lapsed-Christian perspective.

[JasonV]

"I had learned from you that nothing should be held true merely because it is eloquently expressed, nor false because its signs sound harsh upon the lips."
(Book 5, Chp. 6) Ryan's translation.