Give an in depth explanation of the difference Augustine makes between the City of God and the City of Man, and the relation between the two - Essay Example

e dichotomy between good and evil, mind and body, corporeal and incorporeal, perfection and imperfection, heaven and earth and of course between God and man. Saint Augustine says that the two cities were born by two loves. The love for oneself gave birth to the city of man while the love of god gave birth to the City of God. When man loves himself and lives for himself he becomes like the devil. But when he lives according to the truth then he lives according to God. Therefore, even when man is imperfect with the trappings of mortality, when he recognizes the truth in God, he is striving to be perfect even when he is on earth.

When man lives according to the flesh then he is said to be living in the city of man. Living according to the flesh would mean being easily satisfied with the carnal and with instincts instead of reason. In other words, when man becomes close to how animals behave then he is in the city of man. However, when he acts according to reason and according to scriptures, he is in the city of god. Vices and sin are part of the city of man. Vices lead to the destruction of man’s life and sin is that which goes against the truth and nature of man.

Man should be good but when he does evil, he sins. If this is so, then he is in the city of man. However, if he strives not to sin and does not destroy his life through vices, then he is able to go through the City of God. In Book 11, Saint Augustine, discusses the existence of the City of God and provides proof of its existence through citation of testimonies in the psalms. The City of God as thus described is holy, filled with love and joy and all that is good. Through these testimonies, he also argues that there is a founder of the City of God who is over and above all the gods being worshipped in the City of Man.

Therefore, if this city is good then it must be good to live in it. However, in the city of man, which is devoid of perfection, which is filled with war and rage, and with