Augustine in His Own Words (continued)
Against the Manichees 231 battery of crisp questions and answers forms a sort of brief catechism for the Catholic believer to use when faced with the standard Manichaean complaints."40 From On Genesis Against the Manichees, Book 2:
(29.43) Finally, we are discussing with the Manichees the question of religion, and the question of religion is: what does piety demand that we think concerning God? Since they cannot deny that the human race is in the misery of sin, they say that the nature of God is in misery. We deny this and say that the nature that God made from nothing is in misery and that it came to this state, not under compulsion, but by the will to sin.
They say that the nature of God is forced by God Himself to do penance for its sins. We deny this and say that the nature that God made from nothing is forced, after it sinned, to do penance for its sins.
They say that the nature of God receives pardon from God Himself. We deny this and say that the nature that God made from nothing receives pardon for its sins, if it turns from its sins to its God.
They say that the nature of God is by necessity changeable. We deny this and say that the nature that God made from nothing has been changed by its own will.
They say that the sins of others harm the nature of God. We deny this and say that sins harm only the nature of the sinner. We say that God is of such great goodness, of such great justice, and of such great incorruption that He does not sin, that He harms no one who does not will to sin, and that He is harmed by no one who wills to sin.
They say that there exists an evil nature to which God is forced to surrender a part of His own nature to be tortured. We say that there is no natural evil, but that all natures are good and that God is the highest nature. We say that other natures are from God and that all are good insofar as they are, because God made them all very good, but He ordered them in distinct levels so that one is better than another. Thus this universe is filled with every kind of good, and this universe, with some beings perfect and others imperfect, is perfect as a whole, and God its Maker and Creator does not cease to administer it with His just governance. He made all things good by His will. He suffers no evil by necessity, for His will surpasses all things. In no respect does He experience something against His will.
[Manichees] hold the former positions, and we hold the latter ones. Let each person choose which he will follow.41
40. Teske, FOTC 84:140, n. 196. 41. De Genesi adversus Manichaeos 2.29.43 (BA 50:380–82); trans. Teske, FOTC 84:140–41.