Catholic Thought discussion

Summary

Book XII
Subchapters
- The Difference between the Good and the Evil Angels: not Nature but Fault
- The Cause of the First Evil Will
- The Cause of the Good Will of the Good Angels
- The Origin of Humankind
- The “Date” of Man’s Creation
- Against Theories of World Cycles
- Eternity and Time
- Time, Infinity, and the Divine Knowledge
- Ultimate Happiness: the Refutation of the Theory of World Cycles
- God’s Creation of the Human Race from One Man
- God the Sole Creator
- Humanity’s Social Character


Augustine starts Book XII continuing the analysis of good and bad angels. He surmises that the evil of the bad angels could not have an antecedent cause except for an inward turning to pride. He then turns to the creation of mankind as delineated in Genesis. He then considers the nature of eternity and time and most decisively rejects theories of cycles of history. Finally he begins to theorize on the social nature of man. God intended that from one man to come the immensity of civilization all tied together with bonds of kinship.

I don't know if I completely understand Augustine's reasoning about his rejection of historical cycles, but I was most satisfied to see it. I have argued against such cycles for a long time. It amazes me how many people support the notion of an historical cycle. God knows how often I've heard the United States is at the end of her cycle. With all due respect to anyone here who supports it, it's balderdash.

I'm still trying to understand Augustine's reasoning though. Intuitively I would think it should be rooted in free will, but he doesn't say that, I don't think.

It looks to me that some of our modern day science fiction writers may have been inspired in their fantasies from reading Books XI-XIII of St. Augustine’s writing here when he refers to “Numberless Worlds,” “Same World . . .Perpetually Resolved into Elements, and Renewed at the Conclusion of Fixed Cycles,” and “Revolving Cycles that Restore All Things as They Were.” He probably did not create these but reflected some of his contemporaries’ inventions.

Book XI was about creation and how this act of God was a gift to angels and to man. Book XII is about evil. St. Augustine is perplexed by it. He sees the fall of the angels as the first entry of evil into God’s creation: “. . .the devil sins from the beginning.” (1 John 3:8.) What happens to Adam when he comes on the scene will generate results to all humanity. St. Augustine sees evil as a destroying, self-damaging black hole.

Galicius wrote: "Book XI was about creation and how this act of God was a gift to angels and to man. Book XII is about evil. St. Augustine is perplexed by it. He sees the fall of the angels as the first entry of ev..."

Very good. Thank you.