1. The Intersection of Politics and Theology: Comparing Augustine in Light of Augustine
By,
Landon Wilcox

2. Rationale
Problem: Refusing to combine a Theological reading and Political Science reading from The City of God, makes for a less comprehensive reading of Augustine.
Purpose of Theological Inquiry:
First order or normative form of inquiry
Understanding of Augustine’s view of God
Purpose of Political Science Inquiry
Second order or analytical form of inquiry
Form of social scientific inquiry (empirical and non-philosophical)
Solution: Multidisciplinary reading of The City of God is a more comprehensive reading of Augustine, and this allows readers to have a better understanding of Augustine as a thinker.

3. Books I-V Problems Augustine Addresses: Pagans: Augustine Rebuts:
Outlawing pagan worship and establishing the Christian god, makes Christ responsible for Rome’s security.
The sack of Rome demonstrates that the empire is worse off with Christianity.
Augustine Rebuts:
God punishes the Romans because it is His just, sovereign choice (Romans are wicked).
God extends the lives of those who sought refuge in churches because He is good and merciful.
Give essential details of the historical context

4. Books II and IV Theological Context: The Fall of Man Book II Book IV:
Scipio and the Commonwealth
Commonwealth – a community of people that shares common interests, common acknowledgement of law and a common sense of right.
Augustine: Commonwealth has ceased to exist.
Book IV:
Political States lack justice because all humans aim to dominate others.
“For when [Alexander the Great] had asked the [pirate] what he meant by keeping hostile possession of the sea, [the pirate] answered with bold pride, ‘What you mean by seizing the whole earth; but because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, while you who do it with a great fleet are styled emperor’” (Augustine Book IV, Chap IV).
Theological Context sets up Book XIX
Quote Augustine for Book IV

5. Book XIX - The Two Cities and Their Ends
City of Man – community of the reprobate
Not associated with Rome exclusively
City of God – community of the elect
Not associated with Church as an institution exclusively
Ends of both cities is peace
Peace has different meanings, and is achieved through different means.
CoG – End: Peace with God; Means: Faith; Ultimate End – eternal life
CoM – End: Peace in the State; Means: Politics; Ultimate End – eternal punishment

6. Rome is not a Viable Republic
Book II and Book XIX
The Fall eliminates possibility of virtuous humans, so nations being raised up or protected by the gods because of their virtue cannot be true (theological argumentation).
Rome is not a true commonwealth (according to Scipio’s definition).
Redefining the Commonwealth
Augustine’s Commonwealth – an ordered multitude that provides temporal peace and physical security.

7. Conclusions
Books I-V provides the proper vantage point for reading Book XIX and the inverse is true.
By reading Augustine in light of Augustine, readers have a clearer view of his total understanding.

8. Questions?