What Augustine of Hippo thinks about religion
Christian philosopher and theologian (354 to 430), born in Thagaste in Roman Africa; bishop of Hippo Regius from about 396 to 430; author of the Confessions.
Augustine of Hippo did not write this page.
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Only Augustine of Hippo on religion. See everyone on religion
13 dated positions, c. 396–400 CE to c. 413–426 CE, in their own words. Our reading of what Augustine of Hippo has said — not written or endorsed by them.
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Their wordsFor why in your calamities do you complain of Christianity, unless because you desire to enjoy your luxurious licence unrestrained, and to lead an abandoned and profligate life without the interruption of any uneasiness or disaster?
↗The City of God, Volume I (Books I-XIII; Marcus Dods translation, 1871)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Our readingPagans blame Christianity for their afflictions but not their gods for Rome's earlier corruption
Their wordsAnd yet they do not impute to their gods the luxury and avarice, the cruel and dissolute manners, that had rendered the republic utterly wicked and corrupt, even before the coming of Christ; but whatever affliction their pride and effeminacy have exposed them to in these latter days, they furiously impute to our religion.
↗The City of God, Volume I (Books I-XIII; Marcus Dods translation, 1871)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Our readingThe pagan gods cared nothing for how their worshippers lived, only for being honoured and feared
Their wordsBut in all this the demons only looked after their own interest, and cared not at all how their worshippers lived, or rather were at pains to induce them to lead an abandoned life, so long as they paid these tributes to their honour, and regarded them with fear.
↗The City of God, Volume I (Books I-XIII; Marcus Dods translation, 1871)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Their wordsIn a word, human kingdoms are established by divine providence.
↗The City of God, Volume I (Books I-XIII; Marcus Dods translation, 1871)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Their wordsTherefore we are by no means compelled, either, retaining the prescience of God, to take away the freedom of the will, or, retaining the freedom of the will, to deny that He is prescient of future things, which is impious. But we embrace both.
↗The City of God, Volume I (Books I-XIII; Marcus Dods translation, 1871)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Their wordsNevertheless, they who restrain baser lusts, not by the power of the Holy Spirit obtained by the faith of piety, or by the love of intelligible beauty, but by desire of human praise, or, at all events, restrain them better by the love of such praise, are not indeed yet holy, but only less base.
↗The City of God, Volume I (Books I-XIII; Marcus Dods translation, 1871)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Their wordsIt is evident that none come nearer to us than the Platonists.
↗The City of God, Volume I (Books I-XIII; Marcus Dods translation, 1871)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Their wordsAs to the demons, these false and deceitful mediators, who, though their uncleanness of spirit frequently reveals their misery and malignity, yet, by virtue of the levity of their aerial bodies and the nature of the places they inhabit, do contrive to turn us aside and hinder our spiritual progress; they do not help us towards God, but rather prevent us from reaching Him.
↗The City of God, Volume I (Books I-XIII; Marcus Dods translation, 1871)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Their wordsAnd therefore even the mercy we show to men, if it is not shown for God's sake, is not a sacrifice.
↗The City of God, Volume I (Books I-XIII; Marcus Dods translation, 1871)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Our readingHad the first humans not sinned they would not have died, and their descendants inherit that death
Their wordsWherefore we must say that the first men were indeed so created, that if they had not sinned, they would not have experienced any kind of death; but that, having become sinners, they were so punished with death, that whatsoever sprang from their stock should also be punished with the same death.
↗The City of God, Volume I (Books I-XIII; Marcus Dods translation, 1871)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Their wordsFor whatever unbaptized persons die confessing Christ, this confession is of the same efficacy for the remission of sins as if they were washed in the sacred font of baptism.
↗The City of God, Volume I (Books I-XIII; Marcus Dods translation, 1871)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book
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Their wordsThou awakest us to delight in Thy praise; for Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless, until it repose in Thee.
↗Confessions (tr. E. B. Pusey, 1838)gutenberg.org All 8 from this book
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Their wordsBlessed whoso loveth Thee, and his friend in Thee, and his enemy for Thee. For he alone loses none dear to him, to whom all are dear in Him who cannot be lost.
↗Confessions (tr. E. B. Pusey, 1838)gutenberg.org All 8 from this book