The recent disasters in Rome in 410, is reflected in Saint Augustine works from the City of God. These works will be discussed and analysis in order to gain a clearer picture of Augustine’s response to the Pagans, who suggest that the Christian faith had caused the recent disasters in Rome. However, Augustine does not go into too much detail of the recent disaster itself, but he does use Rome’s disaster as an example of the sins committed by the Romans Empire from the past, in order to make his case against the Pagans.
Saint Augustine was born in the North Africa town of Thagate. When he got older, he was set to Cartage to study, there he got involved in with the Manichees. Eventually, Augustine went to Rome for work and met Ambrose, the bishop of Milan, where he found the beginnings of his Christian faith, he converted to Christianity not long after that. Once converted he returned to Africa to become the bishop of Hippo, not far from his own home town. In 410, Rome was captured by the Alaric the Gothic King, as a result the Pagans believed that the disasters that had occurred in Rome, was because of the Christians religion. They believed the Christian faith had weakened the Roman Empire, as before the Christians had arrived the Pagan Gods, had made the Roman Empire successful. Furthermore, it would never have fallen if the Romans had stayed true to their Pagan Gods. Augustine 's response to these accusations, in regard to the capture of Rome by trying to quell both the Pagans and Christians, who believe that if the one true God existed, then he should have protected Rome. Augustine against the Pagans is not something new, as like their predecessors, the pagan Celsus and the Christian Origin, both defending their rights to their religious beliefs and both accusing the other for any disasters in the Roman Empire. The only real difference this time is it was the first time; Rome has been captured, by a Christian. As a result, someone or something needs to be blamed for these disasters. When the barbarian King Alaric, who “was an Arian Christian” took control of Rome a “Catholic city” in “August 410.” The many Christians were “severely shaken in their faith” as they could not believe that the now “Christian Empire” could fall, as they were under God 's protection. Both the Christians and Pagans, were in shock, as neither Christians nor Pagans were spared from the disasters that had befallen them. The barbarians began to burn houses down and rape the women; they stole treasured sacred to the churches. Many believed that Rome’s destruction was caused by the Romans “forsaking their Gods under whose protection Rome had enjoyed such long prosperity.” As Rome had become more Christian orientated, they began to drift away from their Pagan Gods in favour of the Christian God and their views. A pagan named Volusianus questioned if the Christians were the ones that caused the disasters in Rome. A friend of Volusianus named Marcellinus, told St Augustine what Volusianus had said about the Christians causing the disaster and collapse of Rome. Therefore, St Augustine had no other recourse other than to send a letter to Volusianus in the hopes of alleviating his fears, but also as a way of defending the Christians against any wrong doings. Augustine …show more content…
Although his writings in defense of the Christians religion would seem contradictory, to this, but he needed to make an example of Rome in his defense of the Christians. Furthermore, Augustine responds to the Pagans, was used as a means to justify his Christian faith, in addition to this, he further used his response as a way of soothing those Christians, who were starting to lose their faith in God.
He wanted to show the Pagans that their Gods were indeed the ones that caused the collapse of Rome. Furthermore, he needed to show that the Romans were no saints having caused atrocities against other nations and religions, that it is only natural that they should fall from grace. Augustine believes that the capture of Rome, began way before the Christians arrived, and he further believed that Rome had brought this on themselves, for worshipping false Gods. Furthermore, their fake Gods had brought evil into their
Saint Augustine was born in the North Africa town of Thagate. When he got older, he was set to Cartage to study, there he got involved in with the Manichees. Eventually, Augustine went to Rome for work and met Ambrose, the bishop of Milan, where he found the beginnings of his Christian faith, he converted to Christianity not long after that. Once converted he returned to Africa to become the bishop of Hippo, not far from his own home town. In 410, Rome was captured by the Alaric the Gothic King, as a result the Pagans believed that the disasters that had occurred in Rome, was because of the Christians religion. They believed the Christian faith had weakened the Roman Empire, as before the Christians had arrived the Pagan Gods, had made the Roman Empire successful. Furthermore, it would never have fallen if the Romans had stayed true to their Pagan Gods. Augustine 's response to these accusations, in regard to the capture of Rome by trying to quell both the Pagans and Christians, who believe that if the one true God existed, then he should have protected Rome. Augustine against the Pagans is not something new, as like their predecessors, the pagan Celsus and the Christian Origin, both defending their rights to their religious beliefs and both accusing the other for any disasters in the Roman Empire. The only real difference this time is it was the first time; Rome has been captured, by a Christian. As a result, someone or something needs to be blamed for these disasters. When the barbarian King Alaric, who “was an Arian Christian” took control of Rome a “Catholic city” in “August 410.” The many Christians were “severely shaken in their faith” as they could not believe that the now “Christian Empire” could fall, as they were under God 's protection. Both the Christians and Pagans, were in shock, as neither Christians nor Pagans were spared from the disasters that had befallen them. The barbarians began to burn houses down and rape the women; they stole treasured sacred to the churches. Many believed that Rome’s destruction was caused by the Romans “forsaking their Gods under whose protection Rome had enjoyed such long prosperity.” As Rome had become more Christian orientated, they began to drift away from their Pagan Gods in favour of the Christian God and their views. A pagan named Volusianus questioned if the Christians were the ones that caused the disasters in Rome. A friend of Volusianus named Marcellinus, told St Augustine what Volusianus had said about the Christians causing the disaster and collapse of Rome. Therefore, St Augustine had no other recourse other than to send a letter to Volusianus in the hopes of alleviating his fears, but also as a way of defending the Christians against any wrong doings. Augustine …show more content…
Although his writings in defense of the Christians religion would seem contradictory, to this, but he needed to make an example of Rome in his defense of the Christians. Furthermore, Augustine responds to the Pagans, was used as a means to justify his Christian faith, in addition to this, he further used his response as a way of soothing those Christians, who were starting to lose their faith in God.
He wanted to show the Pagans that their Gods were indeed the ones that caused the collapse of Rome. Furthermore, he needed to show that the Romans were no saints having caused atrocities against other nations and religions, that it is only natural that they should fall from grace. Augustine believes that the capture of Rome, began way before the Christians arrived, and he further believed that Rome had brought this on themselves, for worshipping false Gods. Furthermore, their fake Gods had brought evil into their