OnScript Gregory Lee – The Essential City of God
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Jul 3, 2025 Gregory Lee, an Associate Professor at Wheaton College and author of The Essential City of God, joins in for an insightful discussion. He unpacks Augustine’s complex thoughts on politics, morality, and the Christian pilgrimage through life's struggles. Topics include the interplay of angels, demons, and humanity, as well as gender discussions within Augustinian theology. Lee also explores the concept of peace as a transformative power amidst societal conflicts and shares reflections on social justice issues inspired by Augustine’s work.
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Augustine on Rome's Earthly City
- Augustine views Rome as an instantiation of the earthly city dominated by lust for domination and glory.
- Rome's obsession with honor makes it better than some empires, but it ultimately fails as a just society.
Christian Pilgrimage and Politics
- Christians should live as pilgrims or exiles in the earthly city, engaging politically with awareness of its inherent oppression.
- While avoiding naive involvement, they should seek the peace of the earthly city since it affects their wellbeing.
Angels, Demons, and Roman Gods
- Augustine's cosmology distinguishes faithful angels from fallen demons, with humans created to repopulate the heavenly city.
- Roman gods are demons seeking worship; angels lead people to love God, highlighting spiritual forces behind good and evil.
