Structured Response 9.9- Augustine 3b

Response to: http://profptj.blogspot.com/2009/09/explorations-question-3.html

Although Augustine’s focus on sin throughout his work Confessions may seem overwhelming to readers from a modern, secular society, his prolonged contemplation of the subject would find an audience in the 4th century Mediterranean. Lifetimes were shorter than they were today, with various diseases that are treatable by modern medicine regularly plaguing inhabitants, and various activities unaided by modern technology, making life more dangerous than it was today. One could not fail to forget that death is just on the horizon, possibly even close at hand.

During Augustine’s time, a sort of crisis of faith occurred among the peoples of the Roman Empire. Citizens lost confidence in the traditional Roman pantheon, and began to search among other religions for a new faith to follow. Mithraism, Manichaeism, and Christianity were just three of the many religions that gained new followers during this turbulent period.

With a dangerous and uncertain world surrounding them, Augustine’s readers in the 4th century Roman Empire would be receptive to messages on the dangers of sin. With such a short life to look forward to, one would not seek to ruin one’s chance at a rewarding afterlife with sin. Even if the readers of Augustine’s Confessions did not ultimately agree with Augustine’s argument, they would definitely pay attention to his message.