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This was the last book in the series "City of God" and it completes this portion of my library. Good translation according to my daughter who reads ancient Latin.
City of God is a Beautifully written book,A Response to Pagans at the time who blamed much of the disasters and invasions on Christianity.(History tends to repeat itself)The book as well as Saint Augustine's Arguments for the Church are as Relevant today as they were when he first started writing the first book of this massive work in 410.The book is a Classic. It's more than an Apologetic work,It's a Historic and philosophic book.A Must Read.
This is a classic in Christian theology, an excellent reference in 4th century theology, still current particularly for the psychologal analogy of the trinity.
I didn't read this from beginning to end, but I was intrigued by the sharp distinctions Augustine makes between the body and the will, and his insistence on culpability for actions lying in the will. Concurrently, he also seems to provide some disturbing theological foundations for Calvinism. I have to applaud him on tackling the issue of how human free will can coexist with an omniscient God, but I nevertheless find his implication that souls are either hellbound are heavebound from the first moment of their existence -- while logical -- a little disturbing.
This is undoubtedly one of the most pious works ever written. Augustine. I simply do not understand how someone could become so literally religious that he/she could devote so much energy to self piety and introspection. I'm not sure that most people could approach the lifestyle of St. May we shouldn't even try. This book is an important read for everyone.
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