A New Book For Reading?

[XxgoeyxX]

I believe Augustine not only meant it in the sense that we act out these things, but our nature itself, our thoughts. Because it is from thoughts that actions begin, and who here can deny what deep carnal thoughts pervede in the annals of our minds and what fantasies or kinky desires each one holds? That is I believe more in line of what he was trying to convey.

Oo okay so it was our thoughts he was talking about. Well, yeah we can stop yourself from doing it but thinking about it is a different story. Now I understand!

[XxgoeyxX]

So last night I went out with my best friend. Then I told her we have to go to the book so so I can buy another book to read. Anywho long story short I got City of God my St. Augustine. I still havnt finished confessions, but who cares.

Anywho going back to St. Augustine. I wanted to talk about something else.

Why do not all men desire God? Assuming for the moment we are talking strictly about adults, why do they do not desire God and consciously reject Him. In other words, God gave us the opportunity yet people chose their selfish needs instead. And some even chose themselves instead of God. They believe they are more powerful or in some way money has more power then God Himself.
So, I think this is sin and turning away from God by doing what they want to do and not God’s will. Like I mentioned earlier St. Augustine believes, it’s impossible to choose to do “good” or be “good” without God’s constant help. Now free will comes into play.

St. Augustine: “And since no one is able to will unless he is incited and called either intrinsically where no man sees, or extrinsically by the sound of the word or by some visible signs, it is shown that God operates even the will itself in us. For to that supper which, in the Gospel, the Lord says has been prepared, not all those who were called were willing to come, nor would those who came have been able to come if they had not been called. Therefore those who came must not attribute it to themselves; for having been called, they came; and those who willed not to come must not attribute it to others but to themselves alone, because they were called, and in free will they could have come.”

So I think freedom for St. Augustine is the goal of our life; freedom from sin. And with God’s help we can be free from all of this.

But common sense helps us understand why freedom of choice cannot be an absolute. Did we have to freedom to choose which parents to be born too? The date we would be born, the hour, the place. What nationality we would be. The culture, religion, ideals, etc. one will be brought up in? Much less the moment we will die. Yet, once a choice is made in a matter where one is free they are no longer free to choose something else. You can’t just want something then reject it the next minute, cry like a 2 year old and want the other thing. After that choice a person take responsibility of that choice. So, if my choice is to marry one person then I no longer have the freedom to choose another. “Augustine says all man have free will freedom of choice by nature, but only the redeemed have true liberty, or freedom from sin, by grace.”