The readings show a more human side to people of the middle ages. In particular, the saints come accross as more human. For the most part, Augustine's "Confessions" show how he used to sin and kind of paint a picture of his movement from sinfulness to some sort of perfection. However, in book ten he talks about how he still fantasizes about having sex with many different women as he is sleeping. I feel that it shows that although he has fought off his sinful nature, he still has to deal with the urges of his past. He didn't simply discard his old habits with severe discipline. Rather, he seems to have managed a way to not act on these urges. He still wants to have sex with many partners, but he fights an inner battle not to sin.

The readings also confirm my perceptions of the middle ages as a time that was unsanitary compared to today's standards. The fever seems to be a common killer during that time. However, now after 3 days of medication and rest one can return to full health.

The commonality of the fever leads me to wonder whether or not the fever was used to name other illness that carried the similar symptoms, but were unknown at the time.

I think there is a clear convergence with the struggle for spiritual identification and definition we see in the reading with what I believed to be true of the earlier parts of the Middle Ages. Something I believe to be overlooked quite often that divulges from my preconcieved notions is the way the people in the time period viewed the age in which they were living. In Early Christian Lives Athanasius describes how the pagan religions were essentially a deception made by the devil to trick the common man into thinking that he and his demons were holy and gods. On pg. 34 he says "Truly Jesus has utterly destroyed your powers ; stripped of your honours as an angell, you lie rolling in the mud." From this quote it seems that Christians at that time would not have viewed this time as a dark age, but instead as an enlightenment of sorts. This is the time when the devil's hold over man is weakening, and he is left "rolling in the mud".

Readings

Friday January 25th - Augustine Confessions, read books 9-10 and skim books 11-13
Monday January 28th - Augustine City of God book 1 and the letters of Symmachus and Ambrose (#17) which are both in your reader.

Hi

Sorry to be a bother, but circumstances prevented me from getting to class today. Would anyone be able to help me out with the reading assignment for friday. Thank you so much. 

Joel 

Blog Assignment 1

By Thursday 8pm, post a paragraph response to the following:

How do you see the readings diverging from and converging with your ideas about the Middle Ages? Use our discussion from last Friday as a jumping off point.

Also, pose a question about the readings for us to discuss further in class on Friday.

Hello: On Friday I failed to complete my thought concerning women and how they were absent (except his very visible Mother) from Augustine's text - The 600 hundred pound gorilla(s) in the book are women! Augustine is in a constant struggle with his lust for women. At every turn he's confessing his inability to turn to God and receive God's salvation because he is unable to release the yoke of his passion for women. Imagine the power of women: God's words - famous bishops - confessions/conversions to God from other companions - his mother's tears - his best friend's death - NOTHING can convince Augustine that God's love and comfort can be better for him than his love of women. Amazing! Women have all the power in this book; though hardly a full sentence is dedicated to any one women or her place in his life. Go Patriots.

Friday's Discussion Sections

Both 9am Friday discussion sections will meet in VKC205. If you are in the 10am section, go to Oasis and switch to either the 9am or noon sections ASAP. See you tomorrow!