Why did Augustine and his friends steal pears?

With a gang of his friends, Augustine sneaks into an orchard at night and steals a load of pears. He did not want the pears, nor was he motivated by any self-interest. He simply enjoyed the act of doing wrong for its own sake. Augustine knows also that he would never have committed the theft alone.

Why does Augustine ask where the beauty was in his theft of the pears?

Why does Augustine ask where the beauty was in his theft of the pears? Augustine says that the fruit was beautiful because God created it. While the fruit was beautiful, he recognizes that his actions were not beautiful because they were motivated by sinful desires.

What is the significance of the pear tree episode?

That’s right, we’re talking about the Forbidden Fruit episode in the Garden of Eden from Genesis. A lot of people might wonder why Augustine makes such a big deal about thieving some fruit, but this act marks an important moment in Augustine’s life as a sinner. This is the first of his sins that he can remember.

What were the sins of St Augustine?

Augustine continues to reflect on his adolescence during which he recounts two examples of his grave sins that he committed as a sixteen-year-old: the development of his God-less lust and the theft of a pear from his neighbor’s orchard, despite never wanting for food.

What disturbs Augustine most about his theft of pears from a neighboring orchard?

9-14] Augustine considers the theft of the pears next. What particularly disturbs him about this teenage prank is that he did it out of no other motive than a desire to do wrong. Here, Augustine has argued that even sin itself fundamentally aims at a return to God.

What happened to Augustine of Hippo’s son?

family property, raising the son, Adeodatus, left him by his long-term lover (her name is unknown) taken from the lower classes, and continuing his literary pastimes. The death of that son while still an adolescent left Augustine with no obligation to hand on the family property, and so he disposed…

What is original sin we often say babies are innocent What does Augustine think?

We often say that babies are “innocent”. What does Augustine think? Original sin is what everyone is born with because of Adam and Eve. Babies are only innocent because they lack the physical ability to actually do what they desire to do.

What does a pear symbolize in the Bible?

In Christianity, the pear tree frequently appears in connection with Jesus Christ and alludes to His love for mankind. It epitomizes the Christian promise of salvation and eternal life. Similarly, the ancient Chinese believed that the pear tree was a symbol of immortality.

What are the roots of Augustinian spirituality?

Rooted in Augustinian Spirituality Augustine took scripture as a guide for truth, and specifically followed the example of the first Christian community described in the Acts of the Apostles. As such, he and the communities in which he lived followed Christ’s outward model of love through service to others.

What did St Augustine write?

His numerous written works, the most important of which are Confessions (c. 400) and The City of God (c. 413–426), shaped the practice of biblical exegesis and helped lay the foundation for much of medieval and modern Christian thought. In Roman Catholicism he is formally recognized as a doctor of the church. 6

What does Aquinas say about sin?

When Aquinas says that original sin is formally the lack of original justice whereby the will was subject to God, he means that original sin is formally the lack of sanctifying grace whereby the will was subject to God.