In Saint Augustine’s Confessions, Augustine uses an extended metaphor to draw a parallel between a baby misbehaving because their needs are not satisfied and a Christian acting out against God.
Like Augustine, I do not remember anything about my infancy; while I have been told stories, I do not recall my actions as a baby. However, I know that I, like many other babies, often had tantrums when I wanted something. Augustine wrestles with the question of whether or not he was ever innocent. He portrays babies as evil beings because they, “toss [their] arms and legs and make noises, hoping that such few signs as [they can] make would show [their] meaning” (25). In my opinion, I do not see babies as evil; instead, I feel like they are innocent in their origin. Also, God forms babies in the womb, and therefore, babies are born into purity. Augustine struggles with this saying, “you my God, are the source of all good and everywhere you preserve me” (25). If God is sacred, how could he create something in his image that was not pure? Babies are newborn humans, and they have no control of their actions. Like Augustine points out, “since [babies] could not have understood the scolding, it would have been unreasonable, and most unusual, to rebuke [them]” (27). Due to their minimal development, they are not capable of speaking, and therefore their parents are unable to effectively communicate with them. As a result, babies cry when they need attention.
However, Augustine condemns babies for their sins in jealousy and disobedience, claiming, “I myself have seen jealousy in a baby...he was not old enough to talk, but whenever he saw his foster-brother at the breast, he would grow pale with envy” (28). He realizes the indignation in this and claims that he has grown apart from these childish banters. However, his words draw a close parallel to those Christians that are acting out against God in unworldly ways. These men, “work himself into a tantrum against people older than himself and not required to obey him; and to try his best to strike and hurt others who know better than he does” (27-28). While I think Augustine makes a point to discuss babies’ innocence, I think he makes a universal statement about Christians following God. He questions whether men were ever innocent, and therefore makes a statement about whether they have grown out of it. People typically associate babies as a symbol of innocence, new life, and hope. Augustine argues the contrary: babies are born into evil. Augustine confesses, “But, true though my conclusions may be, I do not like to think of that period as part of the same life I now lead…it is no different from the time I spent in my mother’s womb” (28). If babies were born into slavery of sin, will they ever be free? I think Augustine is using his confessions to argue that Christians continue to act out against God because they do not trust those who guard him, God. I think these confessions draw crucial questions about whether or not one can truly escape sin.
- Claire Galpern
Bibliography
Saint Augustine. Confessions. Edited by R. S. Pine-Coffin. London, England: Penguin Group, 1961.
I really, really liked your point about Augustine making "a universal statement about Christians following God." The idea that the infant is more of a symbol representing Christians and their surrounding societies really takes his message deeper than I thought it was when I first read it. I also liked the connection you drew between an infant (and/or Christians), society, and how both are imperfect and evil yet at the same time were made in God's image and therefore have a spark of perfection in their existence.
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