Academic & Spiritual Disciplines in Augustine's "Confessions"

Augustine’s Confessions consists in a blend of honest personal narrative, serious intellectual inquiry, and heartfelt devotional prayer. From the first to the last line of this classic work, he addresses himself to God. The entire book, in which Augustine tells the story of his conversion to Christ and engages in profound and extensive theological and philosophical reflection, takes the form of a prayer to his Lord. Augustine believed the study of academic disciplines can be regularly, deliberately, and explicitly combined with the practice of the spiritual discipline of prayer. As a result, both his mind and his heart are transformed.

Disciplines and Perfection

I’ve been thinking about the academic disciplines lately. The dictionary says the noun “discipline” concerns either a means (training, instruction) or an end (behavior, knowledge). I am convinced that personal perfection, whether intellectual, physical, moral, social, or spiritual, requires controlled habitual efforts to learn, improve, and mature. I also agree with William Law that following rules can facilitate these practices. Dallas Willard says we are formed by our choices and experiences – spiritually and otherwise – for good or for ill. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave us rules to help us “be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect.”