09.02.2017 Views

The Golden Chain - Robert J. Wieland

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

along with Sunday sacredness and other extra-<br />

Biblical doctrines. As a pagan, young Augustine<br />

had become deeply enmeshed in sexual vice. When<br />

he became a Christian, he retained the pagan idea<br />

that sex was inherently evil (even in marriage) and<br />

thus he became celibate. To him, sex became the<br />

sin of sins. He assumed that temptation is<br />

automatically sin.<br />

He soon discovered that sexual desires could<br />

not be eradicated. <strong>The</strong> result was that through<br />

extended, tortuous reasoning he concluded that<br />

since sexual desire was for him ineradicable, sin<br />

itself is also so deeply rooted in human nature that<br />

it can never be eradicated so long as we are<br />

imprisoned in mortal flesh. <strong>The</strong> Hellenistic view of<br />

the dichotomy of man's nature doubtless<br />

contributed to his thinking. God-implanted<br />

physical desires and love were mistakenly<br />

considered a hindrance to holiness.<br />

Having concluded that sin is ineradicable in<br />

human nature, Augustine went further in his efforts<br />

to find some reason for God's acceptance of "the<br />

135

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!