221
See also: God’s covenant with Israel 168–69 ■ Why prayer works 246–47
■ Striving in the way of God 278
CHRISTIANITY
controversy was initially about the
baptism of infants. Pelagius argued
that there was no need for infants
to be baptized to wash away the
stain of sin, as was generally the
belief of the time. He maintained
that sin was a result of human free
will, and since he believed infants
had not developed free will, they
could not have sinned. Moreover, if
children chose to follow God’s way
as they developed free will while
growing up, there would be no
need for them to be baptized at all.
Augustine disagreed with
nearly everything Pelagius said.
He argued—based as much on
experience as on logic—that it is
impossible for humans to choose
freely to follow God’s way. From
birth, the weak-willed human
veers toward choosing what is
wrong, an idea that became known
as original sin. In order to choose
God, Augustine believed that
humans need God’s help—which
is precisely why baptism is so
important. God chooses to give
humans his grace (his saving
help), and because God is all-
powerful, whatever he does must
be effective. Those humans who
receive God’s grace are at liberty to
make their own decision to choose
God, rather than sin. Augustine
maintained a careful balance:
God’s choice does not replace
human choice, but rather makes
it possible for humans to choose.Predestination
Augustine’s concept, which
became known as the doctrine
of predestination, was adopted
by Protestant reformers, notably
John Calvin. In some extreme
statements of predestination, the
idea that God’s grace cannot fail
was emphasized at the expense of
human freedom, reducing human
decisions to inconsequential acts,
because God has already decided
what will happen—the so-called
paradox of free will, by which,
many argue, that predestination
robs humans of free will. Augustine’s
idea of grace is a valuable way of
maintaining the balance between
God’s choice and that of humans. ■In infant baptism, Christians believe
that the stain of sin is washed away.
Pelagius argued that because infants
have not developed free will, they
could not have sinned.
Augustine of Hippo
Aurelius Augustine was born
in 354 CE in Thagaste, North
Africa. He was brought up
as a Christian by his devout
mother, but renounced his
faith during his youth and
led a dissolute life for several
years. After studying Greek
philosophy in Carthage, he
embraced Manichaeism, a
Persian religion, but returned
to Christianity after being
impressed by the sermons
of Bishop Ambrose in Milan
and the example of the desert
hermit Anthony (p.223).
Augustine was baptized
on Easter Day in 387, and by
396 he had been appointed
Bishop at Hippo. He preached
and wrote prolifically about
theological controversies until
his death in 430. He is rightly
regarded as one of the great
Christian thinkers, and his
teaching has continued to
influence Christian thought
throughout the Western world.
Recognized as a saint by the
Anglican and Catholic Church,
he was awarded the highly
honored title, Doctor of the
Church, in the 13th century.Key works397–400 CE Confessions
413– 427 CE The City of GodGod extends his mercy
to humankind not because
they already know him,
but in order that they
may know him.
Augustine of Hippo