Monday, June 2
hmm. so it's monday and i thought everyone would have been talking about book 4 by now... or perhaps everyone like me is behind, haha. how's everyone doing out there?? sorry, guys, that i disappeared for 3 days. we can push book 5 back to thursday if we want. but i'll try to start us off with some thoughts on book 4 at the moment....
We see this role of 'ambition' - or whatever we want to call it- again throughout this book in relation to their gods. The Roman people seem to think (the) one God is not enough, and that they must have multiple gods for every detail of life. Augustine goes on to talk at great length about the gods/goddesses the Romans appoint for Fortune, Felicity, Virtue. He argues these should not be gods seeing as how they are gifts from God (4.21). He also concludes in 33 that first, God is the only giver of felicity and second, "Felicity He gives only to the good."- what do we think about this statement? Frankly, what do we think about the entire section 33? (He also ties felicity to piety which is interesting.) I thought this is true if it was referring simply to an eternal felicity, but then Augustine says that "and this is the mystery of the OT, in which the New was hidden, that there even earthly gifts are promised: those who were spiritual understanding even then, although not yet openly declaring, both the eternity which was symbolized by these earthly things, and in what gifts of God true felicity can be found." Do all physical things really symbolize eternity? etc.
Augustine also writes that "[the pontiff] thinks it expedient, therefore, that states should be deceived in matters of religion" (4.27). is this motivation for deception a by-product of sin or demons? I find a similar train of thought running today- not that people should be deceived abotu religion, but that people should submit themselves to a religion if it will help them be a better person... thus there is deception that someone can be a good person by going to church but not having to believe. People push aside the idea of an absolute truth and simply want the temporal benefits of religion- good morals, character, etc. These are comfortable thoughts because they push aside the awareness of sin and the need for holy, obedient, servants of Jesus Christ. Morality is not enough. Why was there this push towards religious deception??
if anyone else has some better questions or thoughts, go ahead. i'll head on to book 5, but you guys let me know where you are in reading, etc.
Two Thoughts from Book 4
Felicity
We see this role of 'ambition' - or whatever we want to call it- again throughout this book in relation to their gods. The Roman people seem to think (the) one God is not enough, and that they must have multiple gods for every detail of life. Augustine goes on to talk at great length about the gods/goddesses the Romans appoint for Fortune, Felicity, Virtue. He argues these should not be gods seeing as how they are gifts from God (4.21). He also concludes in 33 that first, God is the only giver of felicity and second, "Felicity He gives only to the good."- what do we think about this statement? Frankly, what do we think about the entire section 33? (He also ties felicity to piety which is interesting.) I thought this is true if it was referring simply to an eternal felicity, but then Augustine says that "and this is the mystery of the OT, in which the New was hidden, that there even earthly gifts are promised: those who were spiritual understanding even then, although not yet openly declaring, both the eternity which was symbolized by these earthly things, and in what gifts of God true felicity can be found." Do all physical things really symbolize eternity? etc.
Deception
Augustine also writes that "[the pontiff] thinks it expedient, therefore, that states should be deceived in matters of religion" (4.27). is this motivation for deception a by-product of sin or demons? I find a similar train of thought running today- not that people should be deceived abotu religion, but that people should submit themselves to a religion if it will help them be a better person... thus there is deception that someone can be a good person by going to church but not having to believe. People push aside the idea of an absolute truth and simply want the temporal benefits of religion- good morals, character, etc. These are comfortable thoughts because they push aside the awareness of sin and the need for holy, obedient, servants of Jesus Christ. Morality is not enough. Why was there this push towards religious deception??
if anyone else has some better questions or thoughts, go ahead. i'll head on to book 5, but you guys let me know where you are in reading, etc.
