Presents a dialogue between the Augustine's Confessions and three modern neuroscientific models of addiction on the doctrine of the captivity of the will.

"Conducts a dialogue between the early Christian theologian, Augustine of Hippo, and three modern models of addiction. The choice, learning, and brain disease models of addiction are examined in conversation with Augustine's insight in the Confessions into the mechanism of sin's subversion of the human will, apart from the grace of God. The book argues that Augustine's doctrine of the captive will most closely aligns with the brain disease model of addiction, and that his theology can bring a transcendent dimension both to the neuroscientific understanding of addiction and pathways out of it"--