Reformed Men Divide Over Whether It’s Pronounced “Augustine” Or “Augustine”

Both sides agree the other pronunciation reveals an alarming lack of historical theology, proper Latin, and basic human decency.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A dispute over how to pronounce the name Augustine entered its fourth day Tuesday after two Reformed men agreed that everybody knows you read it as “Augustine” and not “Augustine.”

St. Augustine of Hippo was a fourth- and fifth-century bishop and theologian whose Confessions and City of God remain among Christianity’s most influential works. His name has more than one recognized English pronunciation, which experts say has made the dispute completely unavoidable.

“You can always tell who actually reads the Church Fathers,” said one man, pronouncing the name as “Augustine.”

“The other pronunciation is what happens when people get their theology from airport signs and youth pastors.”

A second man, who rather prefers to pronounce it as “Augustine,” called the first pronunciation “a troubling example of modern anti-intellectualism.”

The men agreed that the matter was too important to resolve by listening to a pronunciation guide, acknowledging regional usage, or simply saying, “I think people say it both ways.” Cambridge and Oxford both list alternative pronunciations for “St Augustine,” while one argument for the middle-syllable stress appeals to the Latin accent pattern.

“This is not about preference,” said the first man. “It is about whether the church will remain faithful to ‘Augustine.’”

“Augustine,” replied the second.

“Exactly,” said the first.

At press time, both men had begun a 63-comment thread accusing the other of pronouncing Confessions in a way that “sounds suspiciously Pelagian.”

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