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Julie G.'s picture

St. Augustine of Hippo

 Have you ever read St. Augustine's Confessions? He wrote in the fourth century and is credited by some scholars of Christianity for generating the "born with sin" concept. He talks about how babies are only interested in their selfish needs, how they have no understanding or caring for others. Until I had read his book, I was familiar with the "born with evil" concept, but hadn't really understood its origins. Like you, I'm guessing, I saw babies as entirely innocent and dependent creatures. Does this perception alter the way we treat/teach babies? If we suspect that they are predisposed to cruelty and selfishness, do we approach them differently than if we feel the opposite? Is this a reflection on how much perception matters in human interactions?

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