Augustinian Sincerity

While St. Augustine has been admired through the centuries for his commanding intellect and rhetorical skill, it is the sincerity of his piety, shining through the former attributes, that has always endeared him to me. Frankly, I find many of his arguments unconvincing on a wide variety of issues; but I am never in doubt as to his earnestness or his devotion to his god.

Augustinian Christianity, like Ghazalian Islam, is, without question, for those who wish to pray. But it is also (like Ghazalian Islam) for those who never cease to think and, above all, for those who are intent upon leading an exemplary life in the service of others. The abode of faith (dar ul-iman) in Augustine's piety--as in al-Ghazali's--is the heart. And where the heart is engaged, love will abide.

Without love, there is no justification for religion; no justification at all.