Literature and History Episode 99: The Boy Who Stole Pears (Augustine's Confessions, Books 1-7)
Dec 10, 2022
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Augustine's Lasting Theological Impact
- Augustine's Confessions profoundly shaped key Christian doctrines like original sin and predestination.
- His work remains central to Christian theology more than any other non-biblical writings.
Context of Empire's Collapse
- Augustine lived during the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and saw violent upheavals firsthand.
- These grim events influenced his views on innate human depravity and original sin.
Donatist Schism's Regional Impact
- North African Christianity in Augustine's youth was split by the Donatist controversy rooted in post-persecution divisions.
- The conflict became a long-standing cultural and theological divide between imperial-backed and local indigenous Christian factions.