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Books that Matter: The City of God

Series: Great Courses

4.3

(87)

Episodes

Rating

TVPG

Year

2016

Language

English

Publisher

The Great Courses

About

Plunge into Augustine's magnum opus with Books That Matter: The City of God-a historical and theological journey through the final years of the ancient world. Taught by Professor Charles Mathewes, these 24 in-depth lectures guide you chapter-by-chapter through Augustine's masterpiece, introducing you not only to the book's key arguments but also to the fascinating historical context.

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Episodes

1. Your Passport to The City of God

30m

The City of God is a monumental work--not just for its scale and structure, but for what it asks of us as readers. In this first lecture, dive into the many layers of this powerful book, surveying why Augustine wrote it, for whom, and what impact it still has on our world today.

2. Who Was Augustine of Hippo?

30m

Examine the paradoxical life of Augustine: Who was he? Why is he such an important historical figure? You'll be surprised that much of what we may associate with him, such as his metaphysical dualism and his antidemocratic adherence to Church law, is mistaken. Here, you'll uncover the real Augustine--and find a man not so unlike ourselves.

3. The Sack of Rome, 410 A.D.

30m

While Roman elites viewed the sack of Rome as a turning point that changed the world forever, the event itself lasted only three days and served more as a catalyst for change than a cataclysm in its own right. In this lecture, you'll find out why the sack was so monumental, and how it inspired Augustine to write The City of God.

4. Augustine's Pagan and Christian Audience

30m

Before delving into the text of The City of God, Professor Mathewes sets the stage with some context about the many audiences that Augustine was writing for, as well as the arguments against Christians that he was confronting. See how Augustine co-opted Roman notions of "city" and "glory" and applied them to his divine purpose.

5. The Problem of Suffering

30m

Book 1 opens by addressing civic-minded Roman citizens looking for happiness in this life--a mistake, Augustine believes. By exploring the problem of evil and questions of suffering and suicide, you'll discover how Augustine's approach toward life differs from the Roman view, yet is arguably more life affirming and even therapeutic.

6. The Price of Empire

30m

Continue your study of Augustine's argument toward civic-minded Romans by reviewing his attacks on their morality and their sense of self-regard. Using their own historians as evidence, Augustine teases out the logical and psychological implications of the Romans' quest for domination, which Augustine says is born out of a longing for transcendent joy.

7. Augustine's Political Vision

30m

Augustine had a clearly defined political philosophy that ran against the grain of Roman beliefs. Here, examine his view that there is no distinction between gangsters and statesmen, and that the difference between conquering and theft is merely one of perspective. Reflect on this "political realism" and what it means for the Roman state.

8. Splendid Vices and Happiness in Hope

30m

In this lecture, you'll reach the climax of Augustine's argument toward civic-minded Romans, which answers the question of how best to pursue happiness while also being a good citizen. The answer takes you through a dazzling discussion of fate versus free will, the nature of divine providence, the errors of glory-seeking, and the tragic nature of the world.

9. Public Religion in Imperial Rome

30m

Turn to The City of God's next set of arguments, which in Books 6 to 10 are aimed toward Roman philosophers who had a different--if still incorrect, according to Augustine--view of religion. After studying the role of religion in Roman society, Professor Mathewes analyzes Augustine's critique of one particular philosopher, Varro.

10. Who or What Is God?

30m

Of all the Roman philosophers, Augustine felt the most kinship with the Platonists, who had developed a transcendent view of God. Where they fell short, he believed, was in imagining God as a distant being, uninterested in material reality. For Augustine, God is immediate and accessible, as he argues in Books 8 and 9.

Extended Details

SeriesGreat Courses

Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

Charles MathewesWriter

The Great CoursesProducer

Charles MathewesActor

Books that Matter: The City of God

Books that Matter: The City of God

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