St. Augustine's Confessions - Early Christianity and Roman Empire

Explore a 46-minute lecture from Yale University's "The Early Middle Ages, 284--1000" course, focusing on St. Augustine's Confessions. Delve into the historical context of this influential work, examining how it provides unique insights into intellectual life in Late Antiquity and the impact of Christianity on the Roman Empire. Investigate the three major doctrinal concerns of the early Church: the problem of evil, the soul-body distinction, and issues of sin and redemption. Follow Augustine's intellectual journey through Manichaeism and Neoplatonism to Christianity, while considering his ideas on perfectionism, grace, and the indelible nature of sin. Learn about Augustine's biography and his conception of sin through the famous "pear tree" incident. Gain a deeper understanding of early Christian thought and its lasting influence on Western philosophy and theology.

- Chapter 1. Why we read The Confessions.
- Chapter 2. A Brief Biography of Augustine.
- Chapter 3. The Problem of Evil.
- Chapter 4. Pears and Augustine's Conception of Sin.
- Chapter 5. Perfectability, Sin, and Grac.