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A. St.

Augustine - Biography

Aurelius Augustine
Born on November 13 354 AD
birthplace: Tagaste (Souk Ahras)
mother: Monica -- very pious Christian
father: Pagan Official who did not embrace Christianity
middle class family -- noble and educated
teenager: interested in philosophy and he was not particularly a moral person
19y/o: he entered Carthage where he began to study ---> had an affair with a
woman for 15 years and she bore him a son, Adeodatus
sinful life of pleasures -- troublemaker and engaged into many parties
he became a teacher in Carthage of rhetoric (top science for roman gentleman)
and was known for his arguments
he was invited to Milan to be a professor
in his travels he was introduced to many religions that made him question which
religion to follow
his mother, Monica, prayed for his son that he may be guided back to God
God answered her mothers prayers by sending Bishop Ambrose (now a saint)
which helped him reform his life
after the death of his son, he was mostly in service at hippo (north of africa)
his famous book confessions by st. Augustine
he died in august 28 430 AD
patron of those who struggle with vices and have habits which they want to break

B. Context of The City of God

410 AD - Vandals conquered roman empire


Roman empire thought to never fall
Collapse of Rome people sought answers of what to believe and what to do
Pagan blamed the Christians
Christians serve God not State
Advocates forgiving of enemies
Their God didnt protect Rome
The conflict of Pagans and Christians led Augustine to write The City of God
Clarify that Christians are not at fault
Reveal that nothing can thwart the unfolding of Gods Eternal Plan
Fall of Roman Empire is insignificant compared to Gods Eternal Plan
Describe that the choices we make occupy either City of God or City of
Earth
Augustine talks of the earthly city not as earth = state and heaven = Church. He
is not into the organization and politics but merely puts emphasis on the ways of
life of either earthly (love of self - lust for power) and heavenly (love for God)
Good and Evil conflict mankind as a whole but to each individual

C. Justice

The essence of JUSTICE is the relation of between man and God from which
right relations between man and man would eventually flow

Justice is the foundation of the state


begins within man right order within oneself just men
to each is given what belongs to each
There is justice when just men share things that are necessary to life
removal of covetousness and addition of impunity

Alexander the Great and the pirate


A pirate, with only a small ship, was considered a criminal when he was taking
possession of the sea. Alexander the Great together with his great fleet questioned
the man and the pirate answered What thou meanest by seizing the whole earth;
but because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, whilst thou who dost it
with a great fleet art styled emperor?

D. Two Cities
according by two loves
Earthly City

Love for....

GOD

God

Contempt for.

Self

Glory for...

God
godliness
worship to God
reward is the Kingdom of
God at the Heavenly City

Rulers who are ruled by


the love of ruling
selfish ruling

E. Two Men

Heavenly City

SELF

Men
Appetites
Pleasures of Earth
money
power
too much wisdom and
pride

Aspect of...

Genesis Story

Ruled by.

Rulers serve one another


in love
social ruling

1st Parents (adam and eve) Sin and Punishment human race two types of
men

Each individual inherited original sin from our first parents but we need not
necessarily remain in sin
Cain bui

Men who live according to MAN

Men who live according to GOD

live in the Earthly City

live in the heavenly city

suffer eternal punishment with the devil

reigns eternally with God

Cain (1st born)

Abel

Cain built a city

Abel built no city recognizes that life


on earth is temporary invest not in
earthly pleasures

F. True Happiness of a Ruler

Christian emperors are truly happy, if they


Rule justly
Fear, love and worship God
Slow to punish and ready to pardon
Luxury is restrained as much as it might have been unrestrained
If all of these are done through the love of eternal felicity with offering of
sacrifices of humility, contrition and prayer

H. Conflict and Peace

Desires earthly peace, for the sake of enjoying earthly goods and makes war in
order to attain this peace.
Style a glorious victory
Victory is inflicted with pride and therefore life destroying
Victory is only short lived cannot abidingly rule over those whom it has
victoriously subjugated

Peace in heavenly city


Style a desirable peace
Secured by eternal victory and peace never ending

G.

Lust for Power


Cain murdered Abel
cain as archetype of crime foundations of the earthly city he built
depicts the conflict of two cities
cain was moved by envious hatred that evil regard as good
possession of goodness = not share it with Abel
Remus and Romulus
Romans
Both citizens of the Earthly city = earthly city itself is divided
desire for glory doesnt want to share the power

H. Tranquility of the Universe

The peace of all things is the tranquility of order.


In the earthly city: Tranquility may still be disturbed/disordered, thus it is
poorly connected with order. Reliance of the law to keep order.
(Order is the distribution of all things, equal and unequal, to its own place,
sense of balance and purpose).
In the heavenly city: Tranquility is free from disturbance and impossible to have
any.
Good comes first before evil. (When peace is disturbed, there is suffering; Life is
needed before there can be pain; There can be no nature of evil if there is no
nature of good to be made evil; etc.)
All men are born to live an earthly life, but are meant to be in union with
God. (This would depend on how each man lives an earthly life, whether in context
with a heavenly city or earthly city).
Temporary Peace Earthly City
Eternal Peace Heavenly City

I. Rulers as Servants

Man as an irrational being seeks bodily comfort and abundant pleasure.


Man as a rational being conscious in achieving harmony of thought and
actions. (Ability to regulate ones action to achieve harmony.)
Man is prone to making mistakes as he is human. There is a need for a divine
Master (God) as a guide.
If Man chooses this, he exhibits obedience to Gods eternal laws: Love of God,
of others and of self. (And consequently must bring others to love God as well).
He does harm to no one and does good to all.
Earthly City Rulers oversee the people while those whom he watches over
for obey (women to their husbands, servants to their masters, etc.)

Heavenly City/family of the just man rulers serves those he seems to


command (rule out of sense of duty for other (mercy), not out of love for power
(authority).

J. Supranational

Maintenance of Mortal Life (Common Factor between Heavenly and Earthly City,
thus allowing a transition from an earthly city to heavenly city through living by the
faith).
Earthly City invites other gods to minister in different functions of human
affairs (God for the lands, of the air, of the different parts of the body, etc.)
Heavenly City One true God alone, to be given worship due service; In Greek:
latreia. Heavenly City is not meant for those who will argue with the presence of
other gods.
Heavenly City welcomes people of all nations and of all backgrounds for as
long as one remains in common is the shared belief in the faith.

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