St Augustine of Hippo was the earliest thinker to develop a distinctively Christian political and social philosophy. He does so mainly from the perspective of Platonism and Stoicism; but by introducing the biblical and Pauline conceptions of sin, grace and predestination he radically transforms the 'classical' understanding of the political. Humanity is not perfectible through participation in the life of a moral community; indeed, there are no moral communities on earth. Humankind is fallen; we are slaves of self-love and the destructive impulses generated by it. The State is no longer the matrix within which human beings can achieve ethical goods through co-operation with other rational and moral beings. Augustine's response to classical political assumptions and claims therefore transcends 'normal' radicalism. His project is not that of drawing attention to weaknesses and inadequacies in our political arrangements with a view to recommending their abolition or improvement. Nor does he adopt the classical practice of delineating an ideal State. To his mind, all States are imperfect: they are the mechanisms whereby an imperfect world is regulated. They can provide justice and peace of a kind, but even the best earthly versions of justice and peace are not true justice and peace. It is precisely the impossibility of true justice on earth that makes the State necessary. Robert Dyson's new book describes and analyses this 'transformation' in detail and shows Augustine's enormous influence upon the development of political thought down to the thirteenth century.

In a stimulating and provocative reinterpretation of Augustine's ideas and their position in the Western intellectual tradition, Miles Hollingworth, though well versed in the latest scholarship, draws his inspiration largely from the actual narrative of Augustine's life. By this means he reintroduces a cardinal but long-neglected fact to the centre of Augustinian studies: that there is a direct line from Augustine's own early experiences of life to his later commentaries on humanity.

Saint Augustine of Hippo (/ɔːˈɡʌstɪn/; 13 November 354 - 28 August 430 AD) was a Roman African, early Christian theologian and philosopher from Numidia whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He was the Bishop of Hippo Regius in North Africa and is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers in Western Christianity for his writings in the Patristic Period. Among his most important works are The City of God, De Doctrina Christiana and Confessions. Augustine imagined the Church as a spiritual City of God, distinct from the material Earthly City.

The restless heart and searching mind of this influential early church father can offer spiritual and intellectual companionship for your spiritual journey. Augustine of Hippo (354–430), theologian, priest, and bishop, is one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity. He is known as much for his long interior struggle that ended with conversion and baptism at age thirty-two as for his influential teachings on human will, original sin and the theology of just war. Cherished as a model for the pursuit of a life of spiritual grace and criticized for his theory of predestination, Augustine is recognized as a living expression of the passion to understand and communicate the deeper meanings of human experience. With fresh translations drawn from Augustine's voluminous writings and probing facing-page commentary, Augustinian scholar Joseph T. Kelley, PhD, provides insight into the mind and heart of this foundational Christian figure. Kelley illustrates how Augustine’s keen intellect, rhetorical skill and passionate faith reshaped the theological language and dogmatic debates of early Christianity. He explores the stormy religious arguments and political upheavals of the fifth century, Augustine’s controversial teachings on predestination, sexuality and marriage, and the deep undercurrents of Augustine’s spiritual quest that still inspire Christians today.

Saint Augustine of Hippo is one of the most important Christian theologians, and his works have exerted a great influence not only on the development of Western Christianity, but also on Western philosophy. Apart from the Roman Catholic Church, where he is honored as a saint as well as a Church Father, Saint Augustine of Hippo is also a prominent figure in the Anglican Communion, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and even in some of the churches that grew out of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.

Book 1: Contemplate the divine with “The City of God, Volume I by Bishop of Hippo Saint Augustine.” Saint Augustine's magnum opus explores the theological foundations of Christianity and the relationship between the earthly city and the city of God. This profound work delves into issues of morality, justice, and the enduring nature of spiritual truths. Book 2: Continue your philosophical journey with “The City of God, Volume II by Bishop of Hippo Saint Augustine.” In this continuation, Saint Augustine expands upon his reflections on the nature of God's city and the earthly realm. This monumental work remains a cornerstone in the study of Christian theology and philosophy. Book 3: Peer into the soul of a saint with “The Confessions of St. Augustine by Bishop of Hippo Saint Augustine.” Augustine's autobiographical masterpiece provides an intimate account of his spiritual journey, personal struggles, and eventual conversion to Christianity. This enduring classic serves as a source of inspiration for those seeking a deeper understanding of faith and self-discovery.

This outline of the career of St. Augustine (354-430) discusses three major fields of his writings: against the Manichees, the Donatists and the British theologian Pelagius, who maintained a theology of divine Grace which saw infant baptism as desirable but not essential for salvation. Augustine's attacks on Pelagianism initiated a debate which remains controversial to this day.

St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo: (354 - 430 AD)Saint Augustine of Hippo was born on November 13, 354 AD, in Tagaste (now Souk Ahras, Algeria), a city then pertaining to Roman Africa. Though his family was not wealthy, they were highly respected in the city. His father was a man by the name of Patricius, and it is recorded that he was one of the curiales (leading members of a clan) of the city. Patricius was a pagan, though he converted to Christianity on his deathbed in accordance with his wife, Saint Monica's, wishes. Augustine too would be greatly influenced by the Christian virtues of his mother. As a boy, Augustine received a Christian education, and was enrolled amongst the catechumens (young Christians preparing for confirmation).