In section 17,27 of book 1 Augustine claims "[...] the intelligence which was your gift to me and [...] in which I frittered it away." How can one claim he has sinfully misused the gifts of omni-benevolent God. In the section 20, 31, the reader receives a clear window into Augustine's view of sin. Here, Augustine states "In this lays my sin, That not in him was I seeking pleasures, distinctions in truth, but in myself and the rest of his creatures," Here, Augustine clarifies that his sin did not lie in what he did, but rather why he did. Motive, is the key factor. Therefore according Hippo's bishop it is possible to misuse a 'God-given' gift such as intelligence if one is using that "God-given gift" of intelligence for the wrong reasons. For example Augustine claims that at a young age Augustine used his "God-given" skills at rhetoric for popularity and fame.
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Friday, September 6, 2013
Augustine's View of Sin
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Yes Ben, I do think "motive" is the key for understanding Augustine's view of sin. We can do "right" things with the "Wrong" motives. Augustine, I think, would then condemn these actions as merely parodies or shadows of righteousness. The outcome of these selfishly motivated "good" actions cannot lead one towards God.
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