Confessions by Aurelius Augustinus

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How can an eternal God be the cause of anything evil ?
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God is not the cause of evil,
for evil has no genuine existence ;
evil is the ABSENCE OF THE GOOD,
the CORRUPTION OF POSSIBILITIES,
as in the human will.
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Only the parts of creation,not the whole,
can partake of evil,the privation of the good.
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By faith the corruption of the human will is cured.
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The question as to what God was doing before he created the world is a senseless question,
since ''before'' the creation would make sense only if God had not created time ;
God's ctreative acts are not in time.
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Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_(St._Augustine)
His infancy and boyhood up to age 14. He speaks of his inability to remember the sins he almost certainly committed during this time. Children serve as insight into what man would be if it weren't for being socialized into waiting one's turn. God teaches us to think of others before we think of ourselves, unlike children who cry until they are fed.
His fall amongst bad companions, which leads him to commit theft and succumb to lust. Augustine comes from a good family and has never wanted for food. In this chapter, he explores the question of why he and his friends stole pears when he had many better pears of his own. He explains the feelings he had as he ate the pears and threw the rest away to the pigs. Augustine argues that he most likely would not have stolen anything had he not been in the company of others who could share in his sin. Some insight into group mentality is given.
His studies at Carthage, his conversion to Manichaeism and continued indulgences in lust between 16 and 19.
His loss of a friend and his studies in Aristotle and the fit and the fair between 20 and 29. Augustine is overcome with grief after his friend dies in his absence. Things he used to love become hateful to him because everything reminds him of what was lost. He concludes that any time one loves something not in God, one is bound to feel such loss. Augustine then suggests that he began to love his life of sorrow more than his fallen friend.
His movement away from Manichaeism under the influence of St. Ambrose in Milan at 29. Augustine begins to understand that things said simply can be true, while things put eloquently may be lacking in substance. He is unimpressed with the substance of Manichaeism, but has not yet found something to replace it. He feels a sense of resigned acceptance to these fables as he has not yet formed a spiritual core to prove their falsity.
His movement towards Christianity under the influence of St. Ambrose at 30. He is taken aback by Ambrose's kindness but still does not understand the substance of his teachings.
His rejection of Manichee dualism and the Neoplatonism view of God at 31. He struggles to create his own views on God which moves him towards a better understanding of God.
His continued inner turmoil on whether to convert to Christianity at 32. Two of his friends Simplicianus and Alypius tell Augustine stories about others converting. While reflecting in a garden, he hears a child's voice chanting "take and read." Augustine picks up a Bible and reads the passage it opens to. Finally, Augustine decides to convert to Christianity.
His baptism done by Ambrose at 33, the death of his mother Monica, the death of his friends Nebridius and Vecundus, and his abandonment of his studies of rhetoric.
Continued reflections on the values of confessions and on the workings of memory, as related to the five senses.
Reflections on Genesis and searching for the meaning of time.
Continued reflections on the book of Genesis. Augustine especially focuses on the language used to tell the creation story.
Exploration of the meaning of Genesis and the Trinity
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