Saint Augustine wrote the City of God in response to the movement of his day which blamed Christians and their God for the fall of Rome. He methodically lays out arguments for why the Roman empire fell and the uselessness of prayers to the pagan gods. In fact he credits the Roman citizens themselves with the end of their empire because they became a corrupt people who dishonored the established empire of their more righteous ancestors. Augustine presents his theory as to the function of society within the divine and natural worlds. He uses the imagery of two cities: one heavenly and one earthly. While the one on Earth is inferior, it mimics the perfected city of God. Augustine breaks down the events of the Old Testament in order to explain the formation and preservation of these cities throughout history, establishing precedent. Finally, he warns his readers from condemning God because his punishment is just and unimaginably awful, contrasting the damnation with praise for the city of God in which citizens will live immortally superior.
Unlike his previous works which are primarily related to religion and history, City of God is Augustine's dissertation upon society. He concerns himself with the functions of government, primarily as to what authority government has below God. Like Plato, Augustine believes in the perfected, desirable nature of the upper spheres of reality -- the heavens. He disagrees with Plato, however, about loyalty. Augustine proposes that men do indeed owe loyalty to their earthly governments by nature of them being governments, despite being ultimate subjects of God.
On a more philosophical note, Augustine discusses four institutions: the church, the state, the City of Heaven, and the City of the World. Each of them, he argues, not only exist but form the cornerstone for human society. He is eager to integrate the four pieces into a unified society which serves God and its citizens with integrity. Unfortunately, society does not function this way because of doubt and dissent. Many have corrupted the system for their personal gain, not understanding that they will receive eternal punishment for their greed. In contrast, Augustine urges people to participate in society to the best of their abilities in order to prosper their communities and to honor God with their contributions. Attempting to mirror the City of Heaven, the City of the World must find peace among its members first.
