“I need not tell all this to you, my God, but in your presence, I tell it to my own kind, to those other men, however few, who may perhaps pick up this book” (Augustine, page 45).
This is from the second chapter of Confessions when Augustine is only beginning to tell all of his sins. Based on this quote, Augustine knew his book would be read by others. Still, he showed no regret in telling all of his misdeeds, and- despite the scorn he may have received from his community- Augustine published a book containing every sin he could remember from his lifetime.
I hate to be the person who brings up Hamilton in every conversation, but I can’t help but to see a parallel in Augustine’s Confessions with The Reynold's Pamphlet. Alexander Hamilton wrote out- in fine detail- his acts of adultery against his wife. He went on to publish the pamphlet and even give a copy to every person in Congress. Like Augustine, Hamilton aired his crooked ways to everyone in his community to read.
Personally, I don’t even like to talk about a disagreement I had with my mother over cheesecake. Augustine and Hamilton took honesty to a completely different level. But why did each man publish something so personal? Anyone who has seen or listened to Hamilton knows that Alexander was trying to remove the taint of a rumor on his name. Based on what I read from the first two chapters of Confessions, Augustine is setting an example. In providing his readers with what is, essentially, a prayer journal, Augustine displays the honest relationship that can be formed with God. Since Christianity was relatively new and developing (Diversification of Practice, page 17), Augustine's Confessions set a great standard for talking to God.
P.S. I commented on Lily Caswell's post and Logan Turner's post!
It's almost as if these men decided to confront the issues and confess before anyone could use rumors or accusations against them. This is obviously a difficult thing to do, it is also risky, but it is very respectable in my eyes.
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