Selected Readings from Augustine of Hippo (Spiritual Classics)

By Augustine of Hippo

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0800771303
• ISBN13: 9780800771300
• Release Date: October 1991
• Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 4.2" x 5.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Augustine in brief

The Fleming H. Revell Company put together four slim volumes of spiritual classics, one each for Augustine of Hippo, Soren Kierkegaard, Martin Luther, and Blaise Pascal. I'm not sure if they were intending to have further volumes available, but in any event, these four were published, and make an interesting little set of spiritual classics. I say 'little set', for these books are small indeed. Each has 64 pages, and the book's footprint size is barely that of a large index card. These are pocket-books in a true sense of the word. They also offer a way of being introduced to masters of spiritual writing in a way that is brief, accessible and not intimidating. In the introduction to the book on Augustine, Robert van de Weyer (who has published collections on things in many religious traditions, including Celtic spirituality, Islam, and a print of an early version of the Book of Common Prayer) states that Augustine may be the most influential Christian ever - both Catholics and Protestants base much of their theologies on Augustine (or react to his theology), and the Orthodox treat him as a venerated father of the church. Van de Weyer gives a brief discussion of Augustine's life in large part derived from the classic work, Confessions. This includes Augustine's early rejection of scripture, his various times of bewilderment and confusion, and his eventual conversion. Van de Weyer draws more widely on Augustine's work to give pieces relating to doctrine and to spirituality, as well as some prayers, including the famous 'Come, Lord, set us on fire.' The book is decorated throughout with colour plates of images inspired by the writings. This is far from a comprehensive book, and in no way a critical commentary. However, for brief kinds of reading, lectio divina and other kinds of inspirational or meditative reading with a bit of historical and theological content thrown in for good measure, this text on Augustine is a good volume to use, together with the other volumes in this series. It is a bit difficult to find, but worth it.