Books That Matter: The City of God
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Books That Matter: The City of God
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Narrated by:
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Charles Mathewes
About this listen
Augustine of Hippo's masterpiece The City of God is one of the greatest books ever written, yet its size - nearly 1,000 pages - too often intimidates even serious readers. Composed in the years after the sack of Rome in the fifth century, it ushers you on an astounding historical and theological journey through the final years of the ancient world. What made this book so powerful? What mysteries lie within it? What relevance does the 1,600-year-old text have for our world today? And how should contemporary readers approach this monumental text?
Now is your chance to answer these questions and more with this profound survey of one of the world's truly great books. Over the course of 24 in-depth lectures, Professor Mathewes guides you chapter by chapter through Augustine's magnum opus, introducing you not only to the book's key arguments but also to the historical context necessary to comprehend The City of God's true power.
Here, you'll discover that Augustine was a surprisingly modern man with a clear-eyed outlook on a world in transition - and whose ideas continue to influence us today. Witness how he wrestled with some of the thorniest philosophical challenges of any time, including the problem of evil, faith versus reason, fate versus free will, and the very nature of God. Although there are no easy answers, Augustine's approach is ultimately therapeutic, helping readers live "happy in hope", which, he argues, is the only true happiness in a fallen world.
Whether you come to this book as a Christian, a philosopher, a historian, a literature lover, or simply someone who wants fresh insight into our world today, Augustine will revolutionize the way you think about politics, religion, history, and our relationship to the divine. Professor Mathewes delivers a magnificent introduction to one of the world's truly great books.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2016 The Great Courses (P)2016 The Teaching Company, LLCListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Books That Matter: The City of God
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Roisin Deighan
- 17-03-17
A tour de force
I thoroughly recommend Professor Mathewes course on one of the great books in human history. He addresses the major themes of The City of God with passion, eloquence and erudition. It will inspire any serious thinker who wants to explore the great questions of human existence.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sheila
- 23-08-20
Very very good
An excellent series of insightful lectures. Thank you.
I had to listen at 80% speed 🥴
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Pearl
- 04-09-22
Gripped from beginning to end
I thoroughly enjoyed this scholarly, yet accessible commentary on an epic work. I found it thought provoking and compelling. I definitely recommend it to those who are interested in the subject.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Tone
- 07-10-22
Great Narration. But a meaningless word salad.
i enjoy the lecturer's enthusiasm but I'm afraid most of this went right over the top of my head.
I'm post grad educated but the verbose philosophical nature of the presentation and the arguments and propositions put forward by the lecturer, even after several listens, left me totally confused as to what exactly he was trying to say.
Rabbit hole philosophers will probably love it.
But for those who want clarity, succinctness and meaning, prepare to be baffled.
I didn't understand a word if it.
I can't with any confidence say that I believe the lecturer didn't actually understand a word of it either.
I've read some of the original City of God and Augustine's way of presenting is much clearer.
Modern academic philosophers have a habit of unnecessarily complicating original works.
The lecturer, whether unintentionally or deliberately has 'Hegelised' the work. ( Try to unpick Hegel's meaning in his verbose twisted language construction and you will experience a similar brick wall, but largely Hegel's Germanic originals are often lost in translation)
It sounds good.
But this course is not a clear introduction to Augustine's 'City of God' for beginners.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- A. Brugge
- 30-07-24
Too modernist, leftist and secular
While the presentation is solid, Augustine is forced through a rigid, leftist perspective. Thinkers referenced in this lecture are Adorno, Woolf and Marx. All in all, the whole thing is more a modern leftist's wet dream of Augustine. Important elements are ignored or twisted, so as to push a more "modern" interpretation of this historic figure. Sin is portrayed as guilt, debauchery is rape or violence. If you want a terribly forced leftist take on Augustine, I guess you could do worse. Yet, anyone wanting a historic or balanced view should look elsewhere. Despite the lecturer's enthusiasm, this is disappointing and terribly manipulative.
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