Augustine’s Confessions accounts the story of his life, beginning with his stubborn resistance to Christianity as a child. His autobiography is written almost like a diary in which he writes about his struggles and the development of his Christian theology. In Book I, he shares his belief that babies sin and feels that he himself should be held accountable for sinning as a young child. Augustine’s claim that babies should be held accountable for their sins, or even that they sin at all, is unreasonable.
Augustine strongly believes that people of all ages sin, even though at early ages, the human body and mind are extremely limited in their capabilities. Augustine states, “For in your sight no man is free from sin, not even a child who has lived only one day on earth” (27). The minds of babies aren’t fully developed to be able to grasp the concept of sinning against God. He goes on to say that he believes “it can hardly be right for a child, even at that age, to cry for everything” (27). While his argument may seem feasible, one must remember that babies cannot speak their needs and have no other way to communicate to their peers than to cry when they are in need. Therefore, how can babies be thought to sin solely from utilizing their only source of communication of need?
Augustine goes on to say that by observing babies from his grown state, he learns how he acted as a baby. He says that a baby “throws tantrums against people older than himself and not required to obey him” and does his best to “hurt others who know better than he does” (27-28). Augustine looks at this in a twisted way; moreover, babies don’t try to harm people. I have never witnessed a baby intentionally trying to harm their elders to achieve what they want. Even if they act in a compromising manner, they can’t and shouldn’t be held accountable for their actions at such a young age. What Augustine says is untrue; furthermore, God speaks about the purity of children and their innocence in the Bible. In the Book of Mark, Jesus becomes indignant when the people in the village won’t let their children come to him. Jesus says to them, “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all” (Mark 10:15). God loves children and acknowledges that their innocent faith is the only thing that one needs to achieve salvation.
Augustine is hard on himself in his search for what God wants from him and forming his Christian theology. The questions that he ponders in Confessions are thoughtful and sincere, but his belief that babies sin is taking things too far and committing eisegesis. Augustine even asks God if he was at any time in his life ever innocent at all (28). His persistence and devout worship is admirable, but God accepts and forgives everyone who repents of his sins. God sets children and their innocent faith in him as a standard for all Christians, and Augustine’s beliefs directly contradict that standard.
Bibliography
Saint Augustine. Confessions. Edited by R. S. Pine-Coffin. London, England: Penguin Group, 1961.
I agree that it seems somewhat ridiculous for Augustine to hold that babies--through their actions and not even through some concept of "original sin"--are sinful. Since I don't have any more knowledge at this point I can only make a guess, but Augustine may be trying to lay the foundational elements for the firm belief of inherent sin in all humans with this "sinful babies" account. In his mind, if he can trace sin to the very beginning of a human's life, then it must be there from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteI think this was very eloquently put, and I definitely agree. As a Christian, in my church we were always taught that there is an "age of accountability", which pretty much excludes babies and children from being held at the same standards as adults. There isn't a specific age put with the word "child", however it is generally understood that when one can distinguish between right and wrong, then they are held accountable. Babies are not mentally capable of knowing the difference between right and wrong, and to hold that against them is a strong assertion. I feel like Augustine would agree, and I think that he may have been using babies as an example to demonstrate a more crucial point: that human nature, in essence is sinful. From our origin with the original sin, it was almost as though we were destined to sin. Augustine, however doesn't really focus on the sovereignty of God, which is also really prevalent in the Bible. Like Annie said, God loves children, and forgives those who repent of their sins.
ReplyDeleteI also found this section of Augustine's writing to be particularly interesting. Typically when one thinks of a baby, sin isn't associated. Like Charles said, I have always excluded babies and young kids from being accountable from sin because at such a young age they are not always aware of their actions. By Augustine suggesting that humans are innately born with sin from the moment of conception he makes several interesting points. Annie's point about Augustine wondering if there was ever a time of innocence in his life was very well put.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Augustine's belief that babies sin is a little extreme. Most people are aware they are sinning when they are doing so, that is part of the reason it is a sin. They are consciously making a decision to do wrong. Babies do not have that conscious aspect and therefore I believe it is hard to claim they sin. Augustine may have been making a point that people are inherently going to sin. When we are born it is part of human nature to sin but like Charles said God forgives those who repent.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this, but I disagree. I believe Augustine was right in the way that babies, just like people commit sinful acts. They become envious of those around them, always wanting the toys of their peers. They are greedy, desiring all the toys and attention for themselves. Finally they are easily angered, how many times have you seen a child throw a temper tantrum for not getting what he or she wanted? These are sins, though they do not know them to be sins, they still commit them. Its in their nature, in people's nature to behave this way, which is what I think Augustine is trying to hit on. However, I do disagree with Augustine when he says children are not innocent, because the children do not know what they are doing is wrong. Therefore,they are not accountable for their actions. I think that though they sin, they maintain their innocence due to their naivety.
ReplyDelete