Augustine, Bishop of HippoAugustine, Bishop of Hippo

354-430354-430

BackgroundBackground

North AfricaNorth Africa Home of Perpetua and Felicity Home of Perpetua and Felicity

(Carthage)(Carthage) Serious, rigorous in faithSerious, rigorous in faith Dominant presence of DonatistsDominant presence of Donatists

Violent conflict in Augustine’s timeViolent conflict in Augustine’s time But “backwaters” of EmpireBut “backwaters” of Empire

Augustine’s lifeAugustine’s life

Ambitious pagan father Patricius, pious Ambitious pagan father Patricius, pious Christian mother MonicaChristian mother Monica Well-educated, career in rhetoric (law)Well-educated, career in rhetoric (law)

Spent his youth “searching”Spent his youth “searching” For love: lived with a woman for 15 yrs, had a For love: lived with a woman for 15 yrs, had a

sonson For meaning: read philosophy, joined different For meaning: read philosophy, joined different

religious/philosophical groupsreligious/philosophical groups For God: unsure about Christianity as a youthFor God: unsure about Christianity as a youth

Confessions 1: “You have made us for yourself, and Confessions 1: “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you”our hearts are restless until they rest in you”

Influential ideasInfluential ideas

Human conditionHuman condition Created to loveCreated to love Deeply influenced by sin (“original sin”), especially “pride” Deeply influenced by sin (“original sin”), especially “pride”

(RWCH, 200)(RWCH, 200) LoveLove

Two loves: for God, for people/creationTwo loves: for God, for people/creation People become unhappy when loves are confusedPeople become unhappy when loves are confused Challenge of life: order loves properlyChallenge of life: order loves properly

““enjoy” God for God’s own sakeenjoy” God for God’s own sake ““use” things of creation to get to love of Goduse” things of creation to get to love of God ““love” neighbor in God (“use with delight”)love” neighbor in God (“use with delight”)

Church and societyChurch and society Human nature is mixed, church is mixedHuman nature is mixed, church is mixed ““Two loves founded two cities” (Chidester, 134)Two loves founded two cities” (Chidester, 134)

City of GodCity of God

Response to pagan critique Response to pagan critique andand Christian Christian triumphalismtriumphalism

Contrasts “earthly” and “heavenly” cityContrasts “earthly” and “heavenly” city Founded on two desires, therefore:Founded on two desires, therefore:

proper to human natureproper to human nature But must be ordered correctlyBut must be ordered correctly

Heavenly cityHeavenly city ““pilgrim” in earthly lifepilgrim” in earthly life Not identical to church, but Christians have dual citizenshipNot identical to church, but Christians have dual citizenship

Challenge for Christians: sort through their duties to Challenge for Christians: sort through their duties to both cities (202, ch. 14)both cities (202, ch. 14) ““Common cause” for mortal human life for both cities Common cause” for mortal human life for both cities

(203, ch. 17): civil law(203, ch. 17): civil law

QuestionsQuestions

Is he right, that peace is the purpose of Is he right, that peace is the purpose of waging war? (p199) Is it the highest good?waging war? (p199) Is it the highest good? Would anyone disagree, in Aug’s time or today? Would anyone disagree, in Aug’s time or today?

How/why?How/why? What might Augustine’s voice contribute to What might Augustine’s voice contribute to

contemporary discussions of religion and contemporary discussions of religion and politics?politics? Common good (203)Common good (203) Best use of temporal goods for both cities (202)Best use of temporal goods for both cities (202)

WWAD re: views of church?WWAD re: views of church?