Saint Augustine’s View on Sexuality Essay -- Religion

Saint Augustines View on Sexuality The historied bishop of Hippo, St. Augustine, is claimed as a cornerstone of Christian theology by both(prenominal) Catholics and Protestants. Many of his views are regarded by Christians as authoritative interpretations of the Bible because they energize withstood heated debate throughout the centuries. Christians ought to ask, however, whether such allegiance is justifiable in all cases. Augustines idea of sex after matrimony, for example, is very narrow, restricting actions and emotions marry Christians today consider part of the beauty of intercourse. A logical self-confidence then, is that Augustines view of grammatical gender, as delineated in many writings, is a resolution to his life of sensuality prior to salvation therefore, his idea about the figure for sex within marriage stems more from his former sin than from scriptural perspective. St. Augustines sordid lifestyle as a young man, revealed in Confessions, serves as a log ical explanation for his limited view of the purpose of sexuality in marriage. His life from adolescence to age thirty-one was so united to aroused go for and sensual pleasure, that he later avoided approval of such emotions so far within the sanctity of holy union. From the age of sixteen until he was freed of promiscuity fifteen years later, Augustines life was woven with a growing desire for illicit acts, until that desire finally became necessity and controlled his will. His lust for sex began in the bath houses of Tagaste, where he was idle without schooling and was tossed aboutand boiling everywhere infornications (2.2). Also during that time, young Augustine displayed his preoccupation with sexual experience by fabricating vulgarities simply to impress his peers. In descript... ...Anderson, Douglas L., ed. Augustine. Nashville Broadman Press, 1979.Augustine. The Confessions of St. Augustine Books I-X. Trans. F.J. Sheed. New York Sheed & Ward, 1942.Babcock, William S., ed . The Ethics of St. Augustine. capital of Georgia Scholars P, 1991.Battenhouse, Roy W., ed. A Companion to the Study of St. Augustine. Grand RapidsBaker,1955.Halsall, Paul. St. Augustine From On Marriage and Concupiscence. Internet gothicSource Book. Oct. 1998. 3 Nov. 2000 <http//www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/aug-marr.html.Hooker, Richard. Early Christianity Augustine. 6 Jun. 1999. 3 Nov. 2000<http//www.wsu.edu8080/dee/deliverer/AUG.HTM.Oates, Whitney J., ed. Basic Writings of Saint Augustine. 1948. 2 vols. Grand RapidsBaker, 1980.Rist, John M. Augustine past Thought Baptized. New York Cambridge University Press, 1994.