Reading Augustine: A Guide to the Confessions

by Jason Byassee

Overview

The Confessions of St. Augustine is one of the few Christian classics that is still widely read in the secular academy. Yet, oddly enough, it is not often read in the manner Augustine appears to have intended and in which the church read it for centuries: as a model of conversion, devotion, friendship, and the love of God. This book is a companion for any reader of the Confessions—whether in an academic, ecclesial, or devotional context—informed by the latest scholarship yet always directed toward pushing the reader, with Augustine, toward God.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781597525299
Publisher:	Cascade Books
Publication date:	10/01/2006
Series:	Cascade Companions
Pages:	102
Product dimensions:	5.02(w) x 7.98(h) x 0.24(d)

About the Author

Jason Byassee received his Ph.D. in theology from Duke University and is currently Assistant Editor at The Christian Century, where he has won numerous awards for excellence in journalism. He is author of two forthcoming volumes: 'Praise Seeking Understanding' (Eerdmans) and 'An Introduction to the Desert Fathers' (Cascade Books). He has been invited to teach courses on Augustine to undergraduates, seminarians, and graduate students at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, North Park Theological Seminary, and Wheaton College.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Augustine's 'Confessions' are a glorious exploration of a living, gracious God. We could have no better guide through Augustine than one of his great friends, Jason Byasee. For anyone who has longed for the living God, for anyone who wants to explore the depth and breadth of the human soul, Byassee opens up new dimensions of this classic of the Christian faith.
—William Willimon, Bishop in the United Methodist Church, currently serving in North Alabama

Jason Byassee's learned, intimate, and engaging guide to Augustine's 'Confessions' is a delight to read and a wonderful resource for everyone who wishes to become the faithful and discerning reader Augustine so fervently desired.
—Carol Zaleski, Smith College

Jason Byassee is an ideal guide to the 'Confessions': lucid, unpretentiously learned, witty, and above all generous—to his subject, to his fellow scholars, and to the reader.
—John Wilson, Editor, Books & Culture

Editorial Reviews

Augustine's 'Confessions' are a glorious exploration of a living, gracious God. We could have no better guide through Augustine than one of his great friends, Jason Byasee. For anyone who has longed for the living God, for anyone who wants to explore the depth and breadth of the human soul, Byassee opens up new dimensions of this classic of the Christian faith.
—William Willimon, Bishop in the United Methodist Church, currently serving in North Alabama

Jason Byassee's learned, intimate, and engaging guide to Augustine's 'Confessions' is a delight to read and a wonderful resource for everyone who wishes to become the faithful and discerning reader Augustine so fervently desired.
—Carol Zaleski, Smith College

Jason Byassee is an ideal guide to the 'Confessions': lucid, unpretentiously learned, witty, and above all generous—to his subject, to his fellow scholars, and to the reader.
—John Wilson, Editor, Books & Culture

From the Publisher