Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does The City of God describe the City of God and the City of Man?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
St. Augustine
Saint Augustine, oil on wood panel by Justus of Ghent, c. 1475; in the Louvre Museum, Paris.
In his seminal work The City of God (De civitate Dei), St. Augustine presents a dualistic vision of human society, defining two symbolic "cities" that represent the spiritual powers of faith and unbelief.12
- The City of God: Represented by the heavenly Jerusalem, this is the community of the elect. It serves as the true home and source of citizenship for Christians, who live in the world as pilgrims longing for their eternal destination.12
- The City of Man: This represents the society of the damned, characterized by internal moral decay and destined for disarray. Augustine uses this concept to contextualize human history, including the history of Rome, arguing that secular powers are ultimately subordinate to the divine history of the City of God.12
These two cities are inextricably intermingled on Earth and will remain so until the Last Judgment. Augustineās framework offers a contrarian view of human life, acknowledging the reality of disaster and disappointment while providing direction through the hope of a better life to come.12