Augustine: City of God

Saint Augustine was bishop of Hippo, North Africa during the 5th century of the waning Roman Empire. He would leave behind two famous literary works that were the first of their kind: Confessions, and the City of God. Both books would provide the theological foundation that has influenced Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Churches to this very day. Our class will focus mainly on the City of God and the main themes he dealt with while explaining the reason why God allowed Rome to be sacked by Alaric, king of the Goths in 410AD.

Course Objectives:

The telos of this course will be to explore the unique blend of Augustine’s historiography, philosophy and theology and his continuing influence upon Western Civilization in the areas of theology, ecclesiology, philosophy and social theory. Equally, students will be encouraged to become proficient in the conversational approach to learning: close readings, interpretive questions, and Socratic discussions of the texts. Students will develop lateral thinking skills by way of analyzing and synthesizing themes and motifs from both texts and strive to write persuasively about the perennial human questions of human life using Augustine as an intellectual foundation.

Text:

• City of God