(Old Facebook Post)

I finished listening to St. Augustine’s City of God today. Forty-five hours of listening to a master rhetorician from the 5th century. One [amazon template=thumbnail11&asin=0140448942]moment I’m stirred by top-notch logic, powerful theological insights, and fascinating historical observations, the next I’m plunged into confusion by yet another hour of describing pagan gods and philosophies, and yet again I’m smiling at some strange ancient belief (salamanders can live in fire; peacock meat doesn’t spoil) or preoccupation (if “not a hair of your head will perish,” does that mean your resurrection body will have long hair and fingernails?). A wonderful opportunity to time travel, to remember again how much bigger this world is than our little 21st century. Now on to Augustine’s Confessions.