Book Review: The City of God - Book 6

Ch. 1 - 5
Chapter one discusses what seems to be the over conpartmentalization of divinity. Augustine argues the foolishness of requests outside the scope of a given deity's pervue. Chapter two discusses Verro's apparent opinion of the gods. Augustine presents the argument that the gods are less worthen then humanity, though Varro does not state that. Chapter three is Augustine's proof thru an examination of the order of Varro's works. Augustine notes the initial texts from Varro discusses humanity. This seems to be, to Augustien, an indication of the Roman worship was an outgrowth of human invention, not inspired by true divinity. Chapter four is a continuation of this line of argument. Chapter five then discusses Varro's distinctions of divnity. Augustine proceeds to question these distinctions, arguing that they are indistinguishable because they all have the same general traits. On the whole, this is difficult to read because I am not familiar with the writings of Varro. I am quickly becoming of the opinion I will need to become acquatined with it if I want to have an easier time of reading this.

Ch. 6 - 10
Chapter six opens with Augustine criticising Varro for his fears of offending the public when Varro states that matters of divinity are separate from human politics. Augustien criticizes the "fable" based and poltical based views of the gods as two parts of the same lie. His criticisim is rather lengthy. Augustine also questions the validity of Varro's natural deity. Chapter eight is a criticism of the panentheistic view, apparently the same as Varro's natural deities, if the contect of this is correct. Chapter seven proposes that the divinity of the fables and politcal are the same, essental a expansion on the argument of chapter six. Chapter ten is a comparison between Seneca and Varro. Seneca is reported to be object to the political promotion of religion where Varro objects to pantheisim. Augustine seems to feel that both are waise to object to these things, but fools accept the other arguments.

Ch. 11 - 12
Chapter eleven reports Seneca's opinion of the Jews. Augustine finds the Jews included in Seneca's invective against supersitition. Augustine's tones are ambivalent towards Seneca. His ambivilance seems more vavorable then the apparent hostility towards Varro. Chapter twelve, Augustien states that his earlier arguments prove how the pagan gods are not givers of true happiness or eternal life.

Originally published: 8/25/06