Post date: Oct 6, 2016 12:30:02 AM
I wanted to try something different today in writing my post as I read along in the book and see how my impressions change from section to section.
First, I am seriously struck with the amount of mommy issues that seem to come up for Augustine. He describes her like a saint, I do not think God could live up to the description he makes of her. He then jokes about how God is taking away marriage from him but I believe he just cannot find a woman to meet his expectations. I am also very struck by the connection between marriage and baptism he makes. In one way I can see it: both are renewals of yourself to start a new life. Given Augstine's stance so far, marriage (more specifically women and sex), seems to be this nasty, pleasurable thing of the flesh that he would never partake in. He also seems to really want kids which confuses me because aren't babies evil? Then he brings up the point of how sleeping with another woman was a hindrance to his marriage...duh.
Honestly, I got very frustrated while I was reading and had to stop a few times. He comes across as this over privileged man who thinks women are there to serve him and be temptations while he deals with all the religious stuff. A woman should not stay in bad relationships to "please her husband" or come across as a holy person. He basically insinuated throughout the book that he's married to God and women are a consolation prize since God can't be here. He made me mad, I did not enjoy him.