Review of St Augustine's Sin
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- Nicole Adam
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Review of St Augustine's Sin
Children are to be viewed not as the property of their parents, but as independent rights holders. The idea that children are sinful, and that they need instructions to follow the correct path, is rather absurd.
Joe Baker in his book St Augustine's Sin shows how Augustine's sin-centered teaching stimulated and sustained a negative mental impact that he endured for much of his life. In his autobiographical works, Augustine wrote of filth and the itch of lust in infants, declaring that babies are born stained with guilt from original sin, the sin of sexual lust. Joe compared Augustine's ideas with recent scientific discoveries, and then reviewed compelling evidence that the attitude of adults towards children is shaped by Augustine's unsafe teachings. This book reveals some of the disturbing ideas and images infants are being exposed to in faith schools.
Getting infants to feel bad about explicit wrongdoing can motivate them in a good way. Getting them to persistently repeat their culpability when they believe themselves to be blameless is liable to make them super sensitive to feelings of toxic guilt later in life. Telling children that they are born wicked and are predisposed to evil is not only potentially harmful, but it is also dishonest. What I liked about this book is Joe's goal to show how teachings in certain schools can disadvantage children who are imaginative and impressionable. His drive alone is inspiring.
The only part of this book I strongly disagree with is chapter 2. In chapter 2, Joe said that the Bible tells that Adam and Eve were unmarried when God commanded them to be fruitful and multiply. I disagree because after God made Eve, Adam referred to Eve as the bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. This alone claims that they were already one. The author's statement is rather misleading. I also disagree with another point he made in chapter 2. I believe sex is originally meant for married couples. It shouldn't be seen as an urge similar to hunger and thirst. Although he was trying to make a point, I found those words misleading.
Noting that clerical child sexual abuse (cCSA) continues to bedevil church institutions today, we consider whether instructions in Augustine's theology might play a big role in it. With all being said, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I took one star because of the misleading words I found. I couldn't rate it any less because it's exceptionally well-edited and inspiring. Readers interested in the well-being of children would like this book. I also recommend it to lovers of nonfiction books and those familiar with Augustine's teachings. You be the judge.
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St Augustine's Sin
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