A vindication of theology - A response to Alain Epp Weaver (An analysis ofthe theological foundations of Augustine and John Howard Yoder)

Alain Epp Weaver's analysis of the theological foundations of Augustine's p roscription of all lies in all circumstances does more than improve our und erstanding of Augustine. In drawing a plausible and illuminating parallel b etween the theological logic of Augustine and the theological logic of John Howard Yoder, Weaver not only succeeds in defining the credibility of Chri stian pacifism but also provides support for interpreting Yoder as a biblic al realist. Moreover, the divergence between Weaver and Christopher Kirwan in their critical assessments of the cogency of Augustine's treatment of ly ing serves to throw into relief the differences between secular philosophic al ethics and theological ethics, incidentally suggesting why it is often d ifficult for twentieth-century thinkers to understand and evaluate premoder n texts.