Opinions on St. Augustine

Katholish · 02-20-2004, 03:41 PM

I guess I really don't know what Protestant denominations think of St. Augustine. I have heard some people speak of him as an authority, but I couldn't quite understand why.

So what is your opinion of St. Augustine of Hippo?

**Chrysostom** · 02-20-2004, 03:48 PM

In much of his worldview, I think he was on the right track. His views on nature and grace, general understanding of human freedom and God's sovereignty, and vision of faith are solid. His take on justification and ecclesiology is misled, however. He was surely one of the greats of our faith.

Katholish · 02-20-2004, 03:51 PM

I assume that you do not consider him a Roman Catholic. Do you think that it was in existance during his time, or that it was started after him?

barefooter · 02-20-2004, 07:47 PM

Well, Calvin certainly seemed to hold him in high esteem.

ReformedYokel · 02-20-2004, 07:55 PM

I've never heard from any Protestant that had anything truly horrible to say.

**Chrysostom** · 02-21-2004, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katholish

I assume that you do not consider him a Roman Catholic. Do you think that it was in existance during his time, or that it was started after him?

"Roman Catholic" is not a phrase of which I'm afraid. I don't think the most serious problems arose until a few centuries before the Reformation. I love people from Clement to Augustine to Aquinas. My biggest problem is Trent. I would have loved for Luther and Calvin to have been able to reform the institution of the Church in their time from within. I wish we could all be Roman Catholics. But, Luther and Calvin (along with the rest) were kicked out, and condemned at Trent. There's not much I can do about that

Amanda · 02-21-2004, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katholish

I assume that you do not consider him a Roman Catholic. Do you think that it was in existance during his time, or that it was started after him?

Like John, I have no problem with the Roman Catholic Church until the Council of Trent, and that's where I believe things got messed up. As for Augustine, I love his writings, and agree with his views on human nature and divine sovereignty. However, his view of sin is a little weird for me.

**Ted Logan** · 02-21-2004, 10:34 AM

I think Augustine is one of the most important noncanonical writers in Christian history. His theodicy, in particular, has been a great help to me.

suntuoso · 02-21-2004, 11:37 AM

I think Augustine was a little wacked in some of his ways. But his turn around in his life was awesome. I believe he was 32 when he got saved, and he lived a pretty bad life before that.

Luke · 02-21-2004, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReformedYokel

I've never heard from any Protestant that had anything truly horrible to say.

Dave Hunt hates his guts. I think Baptists tend to not be that fond of him in general, and many of them disagree with him about pretty much everything.

Katholish · 02-21-2004, 02:45 PM

Mustbenothing and Amanda, wow, I had no idea that there were Protestants with such a position. In a certain sense it leaves me more confused, but I guess it is a good thing that our positions are a little closer than I had thought.

Katholish · 02-21-2004, 03:38 PM

As a followup question, I would assume that you agree that the Primacy of the successor of Peter was a Roman Catholic teaching long before Trent even 1,000 years before Trent. (I would of course say from the beginning, but I don't expect us to agree on that much) Why doesn't this doctrine cause you to have problems with the Church at an earlier time? Even St. Augustine recognized Papal supremacy (one of the reasons that I am very suprised to learn that he is so well liked among Protestants). Or even further, the Catholic Church has always had a clergy basewd on apostolic succession and the sacrament of Holy Orders. Most Protestants completely abolished the priesthood (Anglicans tried to maintain the idea). Why isn't this a greater issue of contention? St. Augustine himself was a bishop afterall.

Quote:

I wish we could all be Roman Catholics.

We could be.

**Sean** · 02-21-2004, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katholish

Mustbenothing and Amanda, wow, I had no idea that there were Protestants with such a position. In a certain sense it leaves me more confused, but I guess it is a good thing that our positions are a little closer than I had thought.

Most educated PROTESTants feel that way. I'm slightly bothered by the fact that you seem to believe we're so ignorant that we merely have it out for the Roman Catholic Church.

barefooter · 02-21-2004, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

Most educated PROTESTants feel that way. I'm slightly bothered by the fact that you seem to believe we're so ignorant that we merely have it out for the Roman Catholic Church.

Exactly. I dislike a lot of Catholic theology, but that doesn't mean that I throw out everything that was written between 440 CE and 1517 CE (the period between Pope Leo I's becoming Bishop of Rome and the early years of the Reformation). Of course, Augustine had died a decade prior to Leo's assuming the title of Bishop of Rome, but my point stands.

ReformedYokel · 02-21-2004, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke

Dave Hunt hates his guts. I think Baptists tend to not be that fond of him in general, and many of them disagree with him about pretty much everything.

I was more referring to people in passing, but there you go: Dave Hunt and Baptists. =P