I have a balanced but limited expectation about what political action can accomplish in a sinful world that will one day pass away, and so it is much easier for me to put my faith in God, the creator of all things, even political.
St. Augustine’s Two Cities reminds me of the Shield of Achilles from the Iliad, as well as the Lord’s Prayer passage “On Earth as it is in Heaven.”❤️🔥
I’m also noticing where in Book 14 he starts talking about the world comprised of the city of men who live by flesh and the city of men who live by the spirit. Perhaps a further manifestation of the cosmic duality in Genesis with the establishment of light and the City of God. ‘On Earth as it is in Heaven’ means the possibility of an earthly City of God, and then the ‘City’ of the men who reject it in favor of the fleshly life. Much to ponder!
Yes. But what happens when a civilization becomes so pluralistic that its people no longer share a meaningful consensus about what “the good” actually is?
If the formation of good human beings is necessary for the preservation of civilization, some shared conception of the good seems necessary too.
I have a balanced but limited expectation about what political action can accomplish in a sinful world that will one day pass away, and so it is much easier for me to put my faith in God, the creator of all things, even political.
This take would make St. Augustine smile
So true. Augustine literally watched the Roman Empire crumble and basically said, 'Well, what did you expect from a human group project?'
St. Augustine’s Two Cities reminds me of the Shield of Achilles from the Iliad, as well as the Lord’s Prayer passage “On Earth as it is in Heaven.”❤️🔥
Ha that’s an interesting connection. Might be fun to explore the idea of “Achilles shield as pagan antecedent to the 2 cities”
Great analogies
I’m also noticing where in Book 14 he starts talking about the world comprised of the city of men who live by flesh and the city of men who live by the spirit. Perhaps a further manifestation of the cosmic duality in Genesis with the establishment of light and the City of God. ‘On Earth as it is in Heaven’ means the possibility of an earthly City of God, and then the ‘City’ of the men who reject it in favor of the fleshly life. Much to ponder!
I’m still savoring the fruits of our discussions of The Brothers Karamazov and am very much looking forward to the next series.
Indeed! Dostoevsky has a way of sitting with you long after you finish reading him. Same is true for Augustine too :)
Yes. But what happens when a civilization becomes so pluralistic that its people no longer share a meaningful consensus about what “the good” actually is?
If the formation of good human beings is necessary for the preservation of civilization, some shared conception of the good seems necessary too.