Sex as Sin: The Legacy of St. Augustine of Hippo
Format
Oral Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Caroline T. Schroeder
Abstract/Artist Statement
I will discuss Augustine's ideas about sexuality and how those ideas impacted later Christian thought. Augustine was one of the most influential writers in the early Catholic Church and many of his ideas have survived through the twenty first century. Because of this, not only did his ideas about how God and humankind interact survive but also his ideas about how men and women should relate. In my preliminary readings I have found that Augustine had many feelings about women that would have been shared by other men of his time but it is unfortunate that because he had such great influence they would carry on until today. Augustine had certain ideas about lust, sexuality, and celibacy and these ideas have influenced later Christian thought on contraception, abortion, and sex. Augustine also believed that woman was the weaker sex and Aquinas furthered his ideas in later times. From the early times of the Catholic Church there is evidence that discrimination against women was self-perpetuating. Augustine's writings are used to this day in order to keep women from becoming priests in the Church. Through my research I hope to find out whether or not Augustine's life experiences and former beliefs influenced his later Christian beliefs. Beyond this I will explore the extent to which Augustine's writings influenced later Christian theology. To what extent does his writing influence the world of today?
Location
Wendell Phillips Center, Room 142
Start Date
3-5-2008 9:00 AM
End Date
3-5-2008 12:30 PM
Sex as Sin: The Legacy of St. Augustine of Hippo
Wendell Phillips Center, Room 142
I will discuss Augustine's ideas about sexuality and how those ideas impacted later Christian thought. Augustine was one of the most influential writers in the early Catholic Church and many of his ideas have survived through the twenty first century. Because of this, not only did his ideas about how God and humankind interact survive but also his ideas about how men and women should relate. In my preliminary readings I have found that Augustine had many feelings about women that would have been shared by other men of his time but it is unfortunate that because he had such great influence they would carry on until today. Augustine had certain ideas about lust, sexuality, and celibacy and these ideas have influenced later Christian thought on contraception, abortion, and sex. Augustine also believed that woman was the weaker sex and Aquinas furthered his ideas in later times. From the early times of the Catholic Church there is evidence that discrimination against women was self-perpetuating. Augustine's writings are used to this day in order to keep women from becoming priests in the Church. Through my research I hope to find out whether or not Augustine's life experiences and former beliefs influenced his later Christian beliefs. Beyond this I will explore the extent to which Augustine's writings influenced later Christian theology. To what extent does his writing influence the world of today?