Scriptural Narratives and Divine Providence

Spiritual Training in Augustine's City of God

Abstract : In his most comprehensive work, the City of God, Augustine shows the destined beginning, progress, and end of the ‘two cities’ into which all humanity is divided: one of which is the earthly and the other of the heavenly. In the first part of the work, he attempts to refute the ‘false teac...

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Bibliographic Details
Author:Naoki Kamimura
Published: S.n., s.l., 2014
Volume:4
Pages:43-58
Language:English
Notes:Accessed at academia.edu on March 30 2023 : https://www.academia.edu/12295586/Scriptural_Narratives_and_Divine_Providence_Spiritual_Training_in_Augustine_s_City_of_God
Periodical:Patristical supplementary
Format:Article
Topic:- Biography > Relations and Sources > Platonism - Neo-platonism
- Biography > Relations and Sources > Paganism
- Works > De civitate Dei
- Doctrine > Social Life > [Sociologie. Cité terrestre. Politique] > [Études d'ensemble] > [Cité] > [Deux cités]
Status:Active
Description
Summary:Abstract : In his most comprehensive work, the City of God, Augustine shows the destined beginning, progress, and end of the ‘two cities’ into which all humanity is divided: one of which is the earthly and the other of the heavenly. In the first part of the work, he attempts to refute the ‘false teaching’ of pagan religious practices and ideas, and then enters into a discussion of the philosophers proclaiming the usefulness of the cult of the gods. It is noteworthy that not only does Augustine admire the ‘entire effort of philosophy’ made first by Socrates as the ‘correction and regulation of morals’ (De ciu. dei 8.3) but emphasises the goal of the spiritualtraining as overcoming the limits of Platonists’ philosophical reflections. I concentrate on the characteristics of Augustine’s view of spiritual training in the City of God , thereby gaining some understanding of the perspective from which he made use of the dimension in speaking about divine providence. I shall first consider the significance of his critical assessment of the Platonists’ philosophical reflection from the viewpoint of the division of all humanity. Then,in the latter part of the City of God , I shall ask how the different scope of the exercises of the soul is extended. Finally, I shall examine how his dealing with the appropriate attitude towards temporal realities in this life is affected and reveal the central feature of spiritual training from the viewpoint of the authority to which the soul is subject.