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Document Details : Title: Sensing Dislocated Belonging Subtitle: Augustine on the Image of God and Becoming Church in the Expositions on the Psalms Author(s): IRIZAR, Pablo Journal: Studies in Spirituality Volume: 31 Date: 2021 Pages: 19-35 DOI: 10.2143/SIS.31.0.3289726 Abstract : Church membership affords a sense of belonging. However, does a sense of belonging affect membership in the Church? The aim of this essay is to show how the Church, which Augustine identifies with the image of God in the Expositions on the Psalms, offers a model to capture dislocated belonging. We proceed by first succinctly elucidating the intimate link between Church membership and salvation (§1), which raises the challenge of thinking about belonging in the Church independently of baptism and salvation, specifically in the Expositions on the Psalms. Accordingly, we then show that sensing constitutes belonging for Augustine (§2) and that suffering is the framework of the Church as the Whole Christ in the Expositions on the Psalms (§3). In closing, the Church as the image of God is presented as a model to describe the process of dislocated belonging as becoming (§4). In short, Augustine construes Church membership as the dynamic belonging of images of the Trinity (humanity), through the perfect divine image (Christ), within the wholesome image of God (the Church). Thus, sensing dislocated belonging affects membership in the Church. |
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