Book Two

doi:10.3828/liverpool/9780856687525.003.0005

Augustine: De Civitate Dei The City of God Books I and XII

P. G. Walsh (contributor)

https://doi.org/10.3828/liverpool/9780856687525.001.0001

Published online:

25 February 2021

Published in print:

07 March 2005

Online ISBN:

9781800342989

Print ISBN:

9780856687525

- Preface
  - Notes
  - Notes
- Abbreviations and Bibliography
  - Notes
  - Notes
Introduction
- Notes
- Notes
De Civitate Dei: Text and Translation of Book I
- Notes
- Notes
Text and Translation of Book II
- Notes
- Notes
Commentary: Book I
- Notes
- Notes
- I Limits to be imposed on the required discussion I Limits to be imposed on the required discussion
- 11 The topics broached in the first book 11 The topics broached in the first book
- III We must take aboard historical writing to demonstrate the ills which befell the Romans when they worshipped the gods before the Christian religion overshadowed them III We must take aboard historical writing to demonstrate the ills which befell the Romans when they worshipped the gods before the Christian religion overshadowed them
- IV The worshippers of the Roman gods never obtained from their deities any honourable precepts, and in their rites they practised every kind of shameful behaviour IV The worshippers of the Roman gods never obtained from their deities any honourable precepts, and in their rites they practised every kind of shameful behaviour
- V The obscenities with which the mother of the gods was honoured by her devotees V The obscenities with which the mother of the gods was honoured by her devotees
- VI The gods of the pagans never instituted teaching on right living VI The gods of the pagans never instituted teaching on right living
- VII The findings of philosophers are useless without divine authority, since the behaviour of the gods has more effect on individuals who are prone to evil deeds than have the arguments of men. VII The findings of philosophers are useless without divine authority, since the behaviour of the gods has more effect on individuals who are prone to evil deeds than have the arguments of men.
- VIII The stage-shows, by which the gods are conciliated rather than displeased by the depiction of their depraved deeds VIII The stage-shows, by which the gods are conciliated rather than displeased by the depiction of their depraved deeds
- IX The opinions of the Romans of old on restraining the poetic licence which the Greeks, in deference to the judgement of the gods, allowed without restriction IX The opinions of the Romans of old on restraining the poetic licence which the Greeks, in deference to the judgement of the gods, allowed without restriction
- X The baleful techniques used by the demons in seeking to have evil deeds, false or true, levelled at them X The baleful techniques used by the demons in seeking to have evil deeds, false or true, levelled at them
- XI The Greeks appointed stage-performers to public offices, for the reason that it would be unjust for those who please the gods to be rejected by their fellow-men XI The Greeks appointed stage-performers to public offices, for the reason that it would be unjust for those who please the gods to be rejected by their fellow-men
- XII The Romans deprived poets of freedom to attack men while allowing them to attack the gods. In this way they regarded themselves as better than their gods XII The Romans deprived poets of freedom to attack men while allowing them to attack the gods. In this way they regarded themselves as better than their gods
- XIII The Romans ought to have realised that their gods were unworthy of divine favours, since they sought to be venerated by despicable shows XIII The Romans ought to have realised that their gods were unworthy of divine favours, since they sought to be venerated by despicable shows
- XIV Plato, in refusing to poets a place in his well-ordered state, was better than these gods who sought to be honoured by stage shows XIV Plato, in refusing to poets a place in his well-ordered state, was better than these gods who sought to be honoured by stage shows
- XV The Romans consecrated some as gods in flattery rather than on rational grounds XV The Romans consecrated some as gods in flattery rather than on rational grounds
- XVI If the gods had had any concern for justice, the Romans instead of borrowing laws from others ought to have obtained instructions from them on how to live XVI If the gods had had any concern for justice, the Romans instead of borrowing laws from others ought to have obtained instructions from them on how to live
- XVII The rape of the Sabine women, and other wicked deeds which flourished in the Roman state even in the era which merited praise XVII The rape of the Sabine women, and other wicked deeds which flourished in the Roman state even in the era which merited praise
- XVIII Roman behaviour when constrained by fear or when freed from anxiety, as recorded in Sallust's history XVIII Roman behaviour when constrained by fear or when freed from anxiety, as recorded in Sallust's history
- XIX The corruption in the state before Christ abolished worship of the gods XIX The corruption in the state before Christ abolished worship of the gods
- XX The kind of happiness which those who assail the era of the Christian religion wish to enjoy, and the morality by which they seek to live XX The kind of happiness which those who assail the era of the Christian religion wish to enjoy, and the morality by which they seek to live
- XXI Cicero's attitude to the Roman republic XXI Cicero's attitude to the Roman republic
- XXII The gods of the Romans were never concerned to prevent the collapse of the republic through evil manners XXII The gods of the Romans were never concerned to prevent the collapse of the republic through evil manners
- XXIII Vicissitudes in temporal affairs depend not on the support or the hostility of the demons, but on the judgement of the true God XXIII Vicissitudes in temporal affairs depend not on the support or the hostility of the demons, but on the judgement of the true God
- XXIV The deeds of Sulla, which the demons revealed that they assisted XXIV The deeds of Sulla, which the demons revealed that they assisted
- XXV The malign spirits greatly incite men to perform foul deeds by interposing what they claim is the divine authority of their example, to encourage criminal activities XXV The malign spirits greatly incite men to perform foul deeds by interposing what they claim is the divine authority of their example, to encourage criminal activities
- XXVI Secret admonitions on moral behaviour issued by the demons contrasted with every kind of wicked activity learnt openly from their ritual XXVI Secret admonitions on moral behaviour issued by the demons contrasted with every kind of wicked activity learnt openly from their ritual
- XXVII The Romans, by consecrating obscenities in the shows which they mounted to propitiate the gods, did much to undermine the morals of the state XXVII The Romans, by consecrating obscenities in the shows which they mounted to propitiate the gods, did much to undermine the morals of the state
- XXVIII The wholesome nature of the Christian religion XXVIII The wholesome nature of the Christian religion
- XXIX An exhortation to the Romans to abandon worship of their gods XXIX An exhortation to the Romans to abandon worship of their gods
- Notes
- Notes
- Indices
  - Notes
  - Notes

Chapter

Book Two

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https://doi.org/10.3828/liverpool/9780856687525.003.0005

Pages

206–224

Published:

March 2005

Abstract

This chapter focuses on Book II of Augustine's City of God. It talks about Augustine's thoughts on faith, which demands an act of the will that transcends the purely intellectual faculty. It also looks at Edward Gibbon's expansion of the thesis on the fall of Rome in 410, which was attributable to the advance of Christianity and the prohibition of the traditional religion. The chapter discusses Augustine's obsession on the issue of blessings and calamities that visited indiscriminately on good and bad persons alike, emphasizing that God's judgements are inscrutable, but will become clear on Judgement Day. The chapter mentions that the meteoric rise of Christianity in Africa caused disgruntled pagans to blame the Christians for every public disaster or misfortune.

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Book Two

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