Augustine as Improvisational Theologian

The Musical Nature of Augustine's Thought

In this article, I explore the nature of Augustine's theological thinking. My thesis is that Augustine is an “improvisational theologian,” meaning his theology begins from the place that an improvisational musician's thinking does: attunement. In order to prove this thesis, I have three sections. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Author:Nathan Crawford
Published: S.n., s.l., 2016
Volume:97
Pages:74-92
Language:English
Periodical:New Blackfriars
Number:1067
ISSN:0028-4289
Format:Article
Topic:- Works > Dialogues / Early works > De musica
- Works > Doctrinal works > De doctrina christiana
- Works > Confessiones
- Doctrine > General studies > [Théologie. Thèmes]
Status:Active
Description
Summary:In this article, I explore the nature of Augustine's theological thinking. My thesis is that Augustine is an “improvisational theologian,” meaning his theology begins from the place that an improvisational musician's thinking does: attunement. In order to prove this thesis, I have three sections. The first is an analysis of the type of thinking that takes place in improvisational music, showing how it is predicated upon an idea of attunement. Second, I explore the improvisational nature of Augustine's thought by seeing how attunement is also at work in his thinking. In order to do this, I show how he develops a musical worldview in De Musica and how this guides his subsequent thinking in De Doctrina Christiana and Confessions. I conclude by briefly pointing to different contemporary theological issues that this reading of Augustine can enrich.

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