You are here100411 - Reading #8 - pg 55
100411 - Reading #8 - pg 55
This week's reading is from Augustine. I've always had a love/hate relationship with Augustine - some of the things he wrote I absolutely love - and others I cannot fathom how the same guy could have written it. i guess that makes him human! So - is this a love or a hate one? ...
Complete Surrender
EXCERPTS FROM: Confessions
- St. Augustine says that he felt like "a house divided," torn between two opposing desires. Have you ever had this experience? Describe.
- A stong force that works against our inner unity, writes Augustine, is that we are weighed down by habit. What role have habits played in your struggle of commitment to GOd?
- In Romans 7:19, Paul confesses that he is unable to do what he wants to do, what he knows is right and good, and yet he finds himself doing that which he does not want to do, what he knows is wrong and evil. How is Jesus Christ the solution to his problems?
- Augustine writes about the whispers of his old habits, and how they tried to persuade him until, in time, their voices grew faint. Which voices of habit would cry out the loudest if your were to try and break that habit?
- In the final section, Augustine asks himself, "How long shall I go on saying, 'Tomorrow, tomottow'? Why not now? Why not make an end of my ugly sins at this moment?" How would you answer his question?
Shalom!
TweetTags
Reflection Question 1. I feel that all of us, at some time in our lives, were torn between two opposing desires. Haven't we all done something inappropriate ? although we knew it was inappropriate we did it anyways ? Hey we are humans, and have done sinful things. I think that our strong connection with faith and God, is what prevents us from continuing to do sinful acts. I think people can change their ways and not be torn between two opposing desires, but only if they want to change and are open to the idea of changing. For Augustine it was when he read the first passage his eyes fell on.
I found this reading to be interesting, and I think it would make for a great group discussion.
I have been reading Constantine’s Sword by James Carroll, which really has me thinking. It’s a bit odd to be reading Devotional Classics while simultaneously learning about the less positive aspects of the people we are gleaning spiritual nutriment from. It’s hard to reconcile the truly poetic and moving writings of men such as St. Augustine and Bernard of Clairvaux against a gnawing background of anti-Semitism. It’s hard to believe such wisdom could reside along side such mistaken beliefs in the same persons. I used to think all was well because I could use the ‘excuse’ of historical context to explain away much of what made me uneasy about the church throughout the ages, as if this term were capable of cleaning up the messy business of so much murderous rage and arrogance; but, I am beginning to see the present from the perspective of history’s influence on existing beliefs which is much harder to rationalize with terms like ‘historical context.’ So much of what I thought I knew has come into new light. It hasn’t made me want to give up on my faith, but it is a reminder that faith has to be intelligent. It can’t be blind, which seems to contradict the teachings of the apostles, especially Paul. Blind faith seems too effortless, and I don’t think real faith can come without struggle on the psychological level. If it is too easy, than where is its pulse? Although this presents a dilemma, I feel the journey from disbelief back to belief and into belief with doubt has kept faith alive for me. The work of faith is never finished. Any thoughts out there? Should faith flow like a river, ever changing, or remain more like a rock, solidly stable and unwavering?
Lori-Ann, I completely agree with your statement that blind faith is too effortless, too easy. Is that really Faith? To me, Faith is often partnered with a battle to be 'faithful'. Along with reading Devotional Classics, I am also reading Mitch Albom's Have a little Faith, there is a great quote from a Rabbi to a wayward member of his flock, "faith is about doing. You are how you act, not just ho you believe."
Hi, Lori-Ann
I have the same qualms about historical figures that you express. It is tough to glean the gems out of the dirt that is often too prevalent. We are constantly in motion, and I don't see how we can ever say, OK now I get it and I'm done!
I personally like the water image because faith is an ever-changing reality for me. The rock will be worn down by the water or crumble from within by the frost (frozen water) heaving it up - only the water carries on.
Augustine tends to see habit as sinful. I am not sure this is the case. I think of habit more as a psychological barrier. I see breaking the barrier as a road to good mental health and not necessarily to spiritual perfection. But it is interesting how much of modern day psychology can be found in such ancient writings. For a long time I have felt that habit is my worst enemy. At its worst it leads to destructive addictions, at its best it leads to discipline. You would think, given this incongruity, a habit would be easy to manage. Yet, the problem of addiction is ubiquitous. We can become addicted slaves to just about anything: food [or anorexia], booze [or, in my case, carrot juice], shopping [or stealing], drugs [and/or the drug culture of apathy], love [or anger], worry [or indifference] . The list is endless. We are the creatures of habit, and we are comforted by whatever is most familiar regardless of profit or loss. Yet, despite the capriciousness of habit, I have tended towards seeing habit as grounded in consciousness. In reality though habit works mostly through unconscious motivations. The payoffs can be hard for the conscious mind to figure out, thus the ‘one soul torn between conflicting wills’ that Augustine talks about. A habit should be something easy to break, through the authority of decision or will; but, so often it is true that our inner selves get caught in the middle of two opposing desires. This is why habit feels like the safe haven, the place where uneasy alertness can take a break and this other mysterious free floating power called habit can take over. It’s easier, at least in the short term. Anyone, who has tried to break the power of a habit, knows that there is a strangeness to the habit’s ability to grip even the most rational mind. Oprah often comments on the power a potato chip has over her, which isn’t even the crazy part. The crazy part is that everyone on the planet knows exactly what she means. The powerful potato chip, a ridiculously funny concept, doesn’t even need to be explained. We accept the potato chip’s power without blinking. The point is that habit is deceptive in its ability to appear guileless. A habit has a tremendous will of its own, precisely because we cannot easily know our own unconscious motivations. We are slaves to our habits, and not the other way around. Habit is less physical and more spiritual than I had thought, although whether it is sin I can’t say. Habit can be a strong force against our inner unity as Augustine suggests. ‘Thy will be done," could certainly ease the war within just by keeping us conscious of ‘the will within’ competing with God’s for our attention.
I agree with much of what you've said, Lori-Ann. It's hard to avoid the evils of habit when all around us there is some promoter willing to help us break the habit (any habit) for a fee. But I think we need some habits in order to function. If we had to consciously make decisions on everything we do every day, we might think twice about getting out of bed in the morning. My habitual breakfast and fitness routine, for example free up my mind to work on other problems or situations that I need to devote energy to while making sure my body gets what it needs to start the day. Where we need to be discerning is when the habit is helpful and when it is harmful - when to keep a habit and when to discard it. And even those lines are not always clear, but can move with the demands of our complex lives.
I was beginning to wonder if you weren't coming back and getting ready to post the questions myself, but here you are! Excellent! I have no answers yet - my relationship with Augustine is more 70-30 than your 50-50 - so I'm going to give myself more time to process this reading before I commit my comments to this board.