Lying: An Augustinian Theology of Duplicity

This book is a fascinating journey--from Augustines total ban on lying through the compromises of philosophers like Plato and Aquinas to the radical espousal of truths impossibility in Nietzche. Griffiths takes us into the heart of Augustines theology to show how the act of duplicity disfigures the image of God in us and exposes human sinfulness. From that perspective all discussion of lying that is merely based on morality justice compassion or humanism is shown to be inadequate and truthfulness becomes a gift of Gods grace. -- Frances Young University of Birmingham (England) Elegantly composed conceptual clarity makes this sounding of Augustine a model for ethical inquiry: as the very paradigm of sin lying (ubiquitous though it may be) cannot be countenanced if we are to become what we are called to be--animals whose speech reflects the Triune Creator by expressing our life as that Creators gift. I have seldom been so impressed with a book. -- David Burrell C.S.C. University of Notre Dame The great temptation in writing about lying is to find a way beyond the Augustinian dictum that a lie is wrong under any circumstances. Griffiths resists the temptation and does so with intelligence wisdom theological acuity and one should gratefully add deep sympathy for human limitations and weakness. This is a challenging and rewarding book unlike any written in modern times on the topic. -- Robert Louis Wilken University of Virginia Griffiths exacting and beautifully wrought analysis helps us to understand the centrality of deception in Western thought and practice: the lie resides silently at the center of our structures of speech and theoretical speculation as well as our equivocal practice. Most interestingly of all he shows how Augustines unequivocal ban upon lying so unpalatable to our ears provides a key to reordered ontology moral philosophy politics and theory of language. -- Catherine Pickstock University of Cambridge This book shakes the foundations. Griffiths is a modern-day Augustine in rhetorical power social analysis textual rigor and theological vision. Reading Griffiths requires steely never as the persuasion of his prose the elegance and rigor of his argument leave the reader in the dock with only God as our witness. This is a masterful essay in philosophical theology--erudite scholarly and graceful in its simplicity. -- Gavin DCosta University of Bristol (England) An excellent piece of scholarship that will intrigue anyone interested in the issues of morality and ethics. -- Library Journal Paul J. Griffiths is Warren Professor of Catholic Theology at Duke Divinity School and the author of the much-acclaimed Christianity through Non-Christian Eyes.