Alcohol & Hating Truth

In the Confessions, Book VI, chapter 2, Augustine describes the enjoyment of alcohol as a very common barrier to the gospel. While describing his mother's practice of honoring dead saints while drinking wine he commented that her love of wine did not "stimulate her to hate the truth, as it does too many, both male and female." You can read the quote in context by clicking the title of this post above.

His language is so strong, and it even seems he might be shocked by the fact that his mother didn't hate the truth though she loved wine, as if loving wine and hating truth went hand-in-hand in everyone except her. She was an admirable exception to the general rule?

When I think of hindrances to the truth, I think of intellectual or moral barriers (i.e., sex, money, power, etc.), but thanks to Augustine we need to add alcohol to the list of barriers keeping people from embracing the gospel.

As someone who spent many Friday nights out at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica doing street evangelism, I can concur with Augustine. Alcohol, more often than not, seems to have a deadening effect on the spiritual sensitivities of people whom at other times are quite reasonable. This was true of a guy named Mike who I talked to many times. When he was sober, he'd listen and even came very close to embracing the gospel on night, but when he'd been drinking, he wasn't worth talking to.

Do you have any further insights into what Augustine's saying here? Let me know.