He who digs a pit falls into it. Numerous Orthodox writers have been correct to challenge the assumptions of Augustinism and to format a critique of Western religion and culture on that basis. However, when this is done as an intellectual fetish, a titillating hobby, or a dilettante’s alternative to pursuing the deification for which St. Augustine is remembered with such reverence by St. Photius and others, it is too easy to fall into the very errors attributed to St. Augustine.
This is easily observed by those who claim to be challenging Augustinism, but in a way that St. Augustine nor his critics among the Saints never did, have presumed to convert Holy Orthodoxy into a dialectical philosphy: this, not that. Here, not there. Etc. Beware the amateur who presumes to lead us to correct thinking, but in whom the piety of the Saints is difficult to find.
The light of the monastics is the angels. The light of laymen is monastics. First, let us fast, pray, confess, and make war on the passions. Until we have achieved something there, let’s remember that words without deeds are empty. Or, as St. James would said it, Faith without works is dead. St. Augustine, save us by thy prayers.