Four Faces of Anger : Seneca, Evagrius Ponticus, Cassian, and Augustine

is realized in the concrete struggles of human nature striving to overcome the tendencies of individualism and egoism. Anger, a force that often breaks down and prevents the growth of community, must eventually be squarely faced and, according to all of the monastic authors discussed in this book, the sooner the better. This chapter also includes several instances in Augustine's own life when he had to deal with anger in himself, in his congregation, or in the wider world that often solicited his help.The reader will soon realize that the Christian authors are not much interested in what anger is from a psychological perspective - though their treatment of anger is not entirely devoid of this element - but their focus is rather on how the vice of anger inhibits the spiritual growth of the soul and its relationship with God. Everyone, whether monastic or not, will glean from these pages the essential elements of detecting, eliminating, and controlling the negative side of this emotion [Publisher's text]