Augustine on Evil

Gillian R. Evans

Cambridge University Press, Jul 27, 1990 - Biography & Autobiography - 198 pages

Augustine, perhaps the most important and most widely read Father of the Church, first became preoccupied with the problem of evil in his boyhood, and this preoccupation continued throughout his life. Augustine's ideas about evil were to mark out the boundaries of the problem for those who came after him; his influence was greater and more widespread than any other early Christian thinker and is still of importance both with those who agree with him and with those who do not. Augustine's personality, so loveably and intricately revealed in his Confessions, has always made him a figure of intense interest.

Contents

• THE EXPERIENCE OF EVIL: xiv
• THE PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF: 7
• The Manichees: 11
• Italy: 16
• A New Life: 23
• Africa Priesthood and a Bishopric: 26
• EVIL IN THE MIND: 29
• The Clouded Mind: 36
• b The Uplifting of the Mind: 40
• Deceiving Appearances: 53
• b Gods Word: 57
• c Telling Lies: 63
• d The Absurdity of the Truth: 77
• EVIL IN THE UNIVERSE: 91
• The Angelic Darkness: 98
• THE ANTIDOTE TO EVIL: 112
• Compelling Questions: 118
• Grace: 128
• Contradictions?: 133
• Neither a Pelagian nor a Manichee: 137
• BECOMING AND BEING GOOD: 150
• Man as He Ought to Be: 152
• Becoming Good: 158
• The Perfect Man: 162
• THE DIVINE IMPERATIVE: 166
• EPILOGUE: 170
• The Carolingian Debate: 173
• The Logic of Evil: 174
• Freedom of Action: 179
• Notes: 185
• Bibliography: 189
• Index: 195

Bibliographic information

• Title: Augustine on Evil
• Author: Gillian R. Evans
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1990
• ISBN: 052139743X, 9780521397438
• Length: 198 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Religious; Philosophy / Good & Evil; Religion / Christian Church / History; Religion / Christian Theology / History; Religion / Christianity / General; Religion / Christianity / History; Religion / Theology