Augustine's City Of God Book 19: Finding True Peace

Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into a cornerstone of Western thought: St. Augustine's City of God, specifically Book 19. This book is a total game-changer, especially if you're wrestling with big questions about life, purpose, and where true happiness can actually be found. Augustine, with his brilliant mind and eloquent way of putting things, lays out some profound ideas about earthly peace versus the eternal peace of the City of God. So, buckle up, and let's unpack this philosophical treasure together!

Unveiling Augustine's Vision of Two Cities

At the heart of City of God, Augustine introduces us to a powerful concept: the existence of two cities. These aren't literal, geographical places, but rather symbolic representations of two different ways of life and two distinct sets of values. On one hand, we have the Earthly City, driven by earthly desires, the pursuit of power, and the fleeting pleasures of the material world. Think of it as a society where everyone's scrambling for status, wealth, and control, often at the expense of others. This city is characterized by conflict, instability, and a never-ending cycle of seeking satisfaction in things that ultimately can't fulfill. Augustine doesn't necessarily condemn the Earthly City outright; he recognizes that it has its place in the temporal order. However, he argues that its foundations are shaky because it's built on shifting sands – the transient and unreliable nature of human ambitions.

On the other hand, we have the City of God. This is a spiritual community, a society of souls bound together by their love for God and their desire for eternal peace and righteousness. Unlike the Earthly City, the City of God isn't concerned with worldly power or possessions. Its citizens find their joy and fulfillment in God's love and in serving Him. They seek justice, truth, and a lasting peace that transcends the chaos and uncertainties of earthly life. Augustine emphasizes that the City of God isn't a utopian dream that can be established on Earth. It's a reality that exists in the hearts and minds of believers, a spiritual kinship that unites them across time and space. While its ultimate fulfillment awaits the end of time, its principles can and should influence our lives here and now, guiding us toward a more virtuous and meaningful existence. The citizens of the City of God, while living in the world, are not of the world. Their allegiance lies elsewhere, in a higher kingdom that offers a more enduring and satisfying citizenship. This dual citizenship creates a tension, a constant negotiation between earthly responsibilities and heavenly aspirations, which is a central theme in Augustine's work.

The Quest for Peace: Earthly vs. Eternal

Augustine delves deeply into the nature of peace, contrasting the fragile and temporary peace offered by the Earthly City with the perfect and eternal peace found only in the City of God. Earthly peace, according to Augustine, is always provisional and imperfect. It's essentially a truce, a temporary cessation of hostilities that's constantly threatened by the insatiable desires and conflicting interests of its citizens. Even when there's a semblance of order and stability, it's often achieved through coercion, oppression, and the suppression of dissent. Think about political treaties, social contracts, or even personal relationships – they can all provide a degree of peace, but they're ultimately vulnerable to disruption and dissolution. Augustine points out that even the most powerful empires, built on military might and political maneuvering, are ultimately destined to crumble because they're founded on the shifting sands of human ambition and the pursuit of worldly glory. The desire for domination and control inevitably leads to conflict, both within and between societies, making true and lasting peace an impossibility.

In contrast, the peace of the City of God is rooted in love, justice, and the pursuit of God's will. It's not merely the absence of conflict but a positive state of harmony and well-being that flows from a right relationship with God and with one another. This peace isn't dependent on external circumstances or the actions of others; it's an inner peace that transcends the chaos and uncertainties of the world. Augustine emphasizes that true peace can only be found in God because He is the ultimate source of all goodness and truth. By aligning our lives with His will and seeking His kingdom, we can experience a peace that surpasses all understanding. This doesn't mean that citizens of the City of God are immune to suffering or hardship. In fact, they may even face persecution and opposition from the Earthly City. However, their faith and hope in God provide them with the strength and resilience to endure, knowing that their ultimate reward awaits them in eternity. The peace of the City of God is not a passive resignation to the evils of the world, but an active engagement in seeking justice, promoting compassion, and witnessing to the truth. It's a peace that empowers believers to be agents of change, to transform the world around them by embodying the values of God's kingdom.

Law and Justice in Augustine's Framework

For Augustine, law and justice are critical components of both the Earthly City and the City of God, but they operate on fundamentally different principles and serve different ends. In the Earthly City, law is primarily concerned with maintaining order and stability, regulating social interactions, and protecting the interests of the ruling powers. Justice, in this context, is often defined as upholding the laws of the state, even if those laws are unjust or discriminatory. Augustine acknowledges that earthly laws are necessary for the functioning of society, but he also recognizes their limitations and imperfections. He points out that earthly laws are often based on human conventions and subject to the biases and prejudices of those in power. As a result, they can be used to oppress the weak, exploit the vulnerable, and perpetuate injustice. Augustine doesn't advocate for the abolition of earthly laws, but he insists that they must be evaluated in light of a higher standard of justice – the eternal law of God.

In the City of God, law and justice are rooted in God's love and His commandments. The primary goal of law in this context is not simply to maintain order but to promote the common good and to lead people to virtue. Justice is understood as giving each person what is due to them, not just according to human laws but according to God's divine law. This includes respecting their dignity, protecting their rights, and ensuring that they have access to the necessities of life. Augustine emphasizes that true justice can only be achieved when human laws are aligned with God's law and when rulers are motivated by love and compassion rather than self-interest. He argues that a just society is one that reflects God's character and that promotes the flourishing of all its members. The citizens of the City of God are called to be agents of justice in the world, to challenge unjust laws and practices, and to advocate for the rights of the oppressed. They do this not out of a desire for worldly power or recognition, but out of a deep commitment to God's will and a love for their fellow human beings. Augustine's vision of law and justice is a powerful call to transform society by aligning it with the principles of God's kingdom.

Love and Its Role in Shaping Society

Augustine argues that love is the driving force behind both the Earthly City and the City of God, but the object and nature of that love differ dramatically. In the Earthly City, love is often directed toward earthly things – wealth, power, pleasure, and human approval. This kind of love is inherently self-centered and leads to competition, conflict, and ultimately, dissatisfaction. Because earthly things are finite and fleeting, the pursuit of them can never truly satisfy the human heart. Augustine describes this kind of love as