| Summary: | The work of St. Augustine of Hippo, in which he incorporated Platonism (as interpreted by Plotinus) into Christianity, is one of the milestones in the history of Western thought. His City of God, as notable for its delightful digressions as for its (central theme, was inspired by Alaric's sacking of Rome in A.D. 410, an event which he regarded as retribution for the workship of false gods by 'educated pagans'. God's real purpose in creating the world, Augustine maintains, was the building of the Heavenly City and the events of history are mere moments in the implementation of a divine plan.
Reviewing, in the first half of the book, the sufferings of Rome throughout history, Augustine asks where the Roman gods were during these bloody events. In the second half he turns from history to the need to found another city, not on the Roman pantheon, but on Christian love.
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