ABSTRACT
Augustine’s Confessions has remained relevant through the many social and cultural revolutions of Western society. The twentieth century was difficult for the study of religion and theology: theologians turned to new modes of study, and the academic world became more secular and oriented toward science. But lately, a renewed interest in religion—partly as a result of religious violence—has kept Confessions relevant for anyone interested in the European Christian traditions. Confessions has served as an important source text, useful for discussions both in and out of a Church context. The enduring status of Confessions comes, perhaps more than anything, from its poetic prose. The interior register of Augustine’s texts—Augustine’s inner voice—continues to delight and engage scholars and general readers alike. Augustine’s Confessions provides a picture of the human that is at once ancient and new, and that delights as much as it informs its reader.
