Augustinian Political Theology: From De Civitate Dei to the 20th Century

Abstract

This study defines St. Augustine of Hippo’s political theology from De Civitate Dei and examines permutations of it from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. Augustine’s 5th Century political theology defines the limits and bounds of church-state relations, which strikingly resembles that of liberal democratic governments in the modern day: particularly, in the concept of religious liberty. Augustine believes that though citizens of a state may have their concern for different spiritual goods, all can equally share in the earthly goods of the present world (like government) in order to establish and maintain an earthly peace.