Augustine and his Critics - Scholarly Responses to Modern Criticism

In this review of Augustine and his Critics readers will find a focused, scholarly collection that suits those seeking informed defenses of Augustine of Hippo against modern objections. Edited by Robert Dodaro and George Lawless, this volume gathers twelve specialists who address controversies around freedom, sexuality, the self, asceticism and politics, making the single biggest reason to buy it the book's consistent aim to recover neglected historical, philosophical and theological contexts behind Augustine's most debated views.

Key Features

• Focused scholarly debate: Each essay engages a specific contemporary criticism, helping readers see Augustine's positions in context rather than as isolated dicta.
• Wide thematic scope: Contributors cover topics from personal freedom and the self to sexuality, gender and the body, offering multiple angles on recurring scholarly disputes.
• Historical perspective: The collection emphasizes neglected historical and theological perspectives, which clarifies how Augustine's thought developed within his era.
• Expert contributors: Twelve specialists provide in-depth responses, making the book useful for advanced students and researchers seeking rigorous argumentation.
• Stimulating arguments: The essays aim to challenge modern assumptions and revive overlooked philosophical and theological resources relevant to Augustine.

Who It's For

This book is best for graduate students, clergy, historians of Christianity and anyone with a prior interest in patristics who wants a concentrated engagement with modern criticisms of Augustine. The contributors assume some familiarity with Augustine's major works and with scholarly debates about theology and philosophy.

Readers looking for a general introduction to Augustine or a lightly annotated popular biography should look elsewhere; this collection is an edited scholarly volume designed for readers ready to engage detailed, argumentative essays rather than introductory overviews.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Offers substantial historical and theological context that re-frames many modern critiques of Augustine.
• Addresses a broad set of themes including spirituality, asceticism and politics in addition to gender and sexuality.
• Written by specialists, the essays provide strong, research-driven responses valuable to scholars and students.

Cons

• The volume presumes background knowledge of Augustine and scholarly debates, so it can be dense for casual readers.

Specifications

Title	Augustine and his Critics (Christian Origins Library)
Editors	Robert Dodaro, George Lawless
Subject focus	Responses to modern criticisms of Augustine
Themes covered	Freedom, self, sexuality, gender, body, spirituality, asceticism, politics
Contributors	Twelve specialist authors
Approach	Historical, philosophical and theological perspectives

Our Verdict

Augustine and his Critics is a valuable, argument-driven collection for readers who want to understand and rebut contemporary objections to Augustine with historical and theological nuance. Its essays are intellectually rigorous and, while demanding, offer good value for students and scholars seeking serious engagement rather than a popular primer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for beginners?
It is best for readers with some prior knowledge of Augustine or patristic studies; beginners may find the essays dense.

What topics are addressed?
Essays respond to criticisms about freedom, the self, sexuality and gender, spirituality, asceticism and political implications of Augustine's thought.

Who edited the volume?
The collection is edited by Robert Dodaro and George Lawless and features twelve specialist contributors.