ABSTRACT

Augustine of Hippo was an influential Catholic theologian and bishop who is most noted for his many learned treatises and commentaries on Scripture. His The City of God argues that the two cities—the "City of Man" and the "City of God"—are mingled and intertwined in this life, but will be separated by their different loves. The City of God provides a seminal and sophisticated statement on the relationship between religion and politics in the history of Western society. Readers of The City of God encounter one of the first large-scale attempts to work out the dynamics of religious rivalry and transnationalism. Through this framework, Augustine recasts foundational concepts in the field of theology: the nature of blessedness, peace, and justice, and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. The City of God informs many strands of theological reflection that continue to shape the political, social, and educational institutions of Western Europe.