Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we delve into the life of Aurelius Augustinus, known to history as Augustine of Hippo—a figure whose writings defined the course of Western Christianity and philosophy. Born in 354 in Roman Africa to a pagan father and a devout Christian mother, Saint Monica, Augustine’s journey began not with holiness, but with a "hedonistic lifestyle" and a search for truth that led him first to Manichaeism,,. We discuss his early years, including his relationship with a concubine, his son Adeodatus, and his famous, reluctant prayer: "Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet",.

We trace his intellectual and spiritual evolution, from his career as a rhetoric professor in Carthage and Milan to his pivotal encounter with Bishop Ambrose and his conversion to Christianity after hearing a child’s voice say, "take up and read",,. Listeners will learn how Augustine, once ordained Bishop of Hippo, shaped core theological concepts that remain debated today, including:

• Original Sin and Grace: His conflict with the Pelagians and the formulation of original sin as a wound to human nature,.

• The Two Cities: His response to the sack of Rome in The City of God, distinguishing the heavenly city from the earthly empire,.

• Just War and Coercion: His development of "just war" theory and his controversial shift toward using state coercion against the Donatist sect,,.

• Philosophy of Time: His profound meditations on time, memory, and the human mind found in his autobiography, Confessions,.

Join us as we examine the legacy of this Doctor of the Church, whose work influenced everyone from Thomas Aquinas to Martin Luther and continues to shape modern thought,.