St. Augustine is a famous historian and theologian of the fourth and fifth centuries. His rise to these heights was mainly fostered by his that disputed what was thought to be a major historical event at the time – the fall of Rome. St. Augustine gives a detailed review of this event in a series of twenty-two books entitled ‘The City of God’. In this work, St. Augustine explicitly brings to our attention the four main concepts that influence human life – the state, the church, city of men and city of God.[1] This paper discusses the influence that Augustine’s work has had on me as a historian, the various skills, and dispositions that can enable one to participate in critiquing or supporting St. Augustine’s work and an analysis of the workability of this theory in modern life.
St. Augustine’s work changed the course of history and the view on the whole purpose of history. According to him, the sole reason why history existed was to prove to future generations the greatness of God. Before him, many people had come up with various reasons as to why they thought history was important. On the course of history, Augustine questioned the doctrine of fate and failure of the gods which had been used to explain historical phenomena including the fall of Rome itself. In this regard, Augustine argued that things happen because they have to happen and that the real God, whom the Romans worshiped, had nothing to do with the fall of Rome; Rome would have fallen even if Romans were still worshipping other gods.[2] Augustine further argues that only the kingdom of heaven guarantees man eternal happiness. Augustine’s work is an encouragement to Christians to always separate earthly history from theology.
As a historian, the most important thing that I learn from St. Augustine’s work is the importance of separating history from theology.[3] It is much easier for one ton understand the fall of Rome by considering the events of the earthly realm; the attackers of Rome ambushed and defeated the Goths. However, when one factors religion in this, it becomes very difficult to understand this historical event. The argument of whether Roe fell due to Christianity and that it proved the failure of the deity that the Romans called the true God is purely theological and should be left to theologians.
For one to be able to understand, follow and critique the work of St. Augustine, being a Christian is a major predisposition that will help them. Though the work is of major historical significance, it is based on the Bible and Christian teachings. Being a Christian and a reader of the bible can help an analyst understand the context in which St. Augustine raises his argument.
For us young historians, one needs to have the skill of critical analysis for them to fully understand and apply St. Augustine’s work. This work can only be very useful to a person who has analyzed it closely the whole series of the books written by St. Augustine. A love for reading widely can also help. ‘The City of God’ is a completion of other works started by Augustine earlier; wide reading can enable one to come across this earlier material which can help them understand the context of this work better.
In conclusion, I am of the opinion that St. Augustine’s work is still very key modern interpretation of history and it is possible to refer to it when analyzing history. In all ages of history, separating history from theology is key in understanding history without risking confusion and controversy.
Bibliography
Strickland, Lloyd. “Leibniz’s Harmony between the Kingdoms of Nature and Grace.” Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie 98, no. 3 (2016): 302-329
[1] Strickland, Lloyd. “Leibniz’s Harmony between the Kingdoms of Nature and Grace.” Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie 98, no. 3 (2016): 307.
[2] Lloyd, Leibniz’s Harmony between the Kingdoms of Nature and Grace, 309.
[3] Lloyd, Leibniz’s Harmony between the Kingdoms of Nature and Grace, 321.
