Existential humility and the critique of civil religion in Augustine's political theology

Abstract

In this chapter I explore Augustine's political theology, with a focus on his critique of civil religion. The ancient Greek, Roman, and Jewish polities adopted a divine patronage model in their understanding of the relationship of the city of man to the gods or God. The chapter contends that Augustine's rejection of the divine patronage is central to understanding his political thought. Rooted in an understanding of God's providence and Christ's inauguration of an otherworldly kingdom, Augustine develops a striking theodicy that ballasts his radical denial of the divine patronage model of the civitas terrena. Augustine posits the need for statesmen to cultivate existential humility in their understanding of the divine providence in relationship to polity.