The Pilgrim City: St Augustine of Hippo and his Innovation in Political Thought

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In this book Miles Hollingworth investigates how Augustine's understanding of discipleship causes him to resist the normal tendencies of Western political thinkers. On the one hand, he does not attempt to delineate an ideal state in the classical fashion: to his mind, the Garden of Eden can be an archetype for nothing on earth. And on the other hand, he does not seek to achieve an ideological perspective on the proper relations between Church and State. In fact his Pilgrim City is shown to lie beyond utopianism, realism and the normal terms of political discourse. It stands, instead, as a singular challenge to the aspirations of politics in the West; and so standing it calls for a reassessment of his position in the history of political thought.

This book will be of interest to theologians as well as historians of political thought. It will also appeal to anyone with an interest in the history of ideas.

Reviews

In a period of flourishing interest in Augustine's political thought, Miles Hollingworth's Pilgrim City is a welcome contribution... wide ranging, impressively researched and provocatively presented... -- Theology Vol 114 No. 4
... This book will be of great value to all who have come to rely upon Augustine for insights into political thought and who still ponder the responsibility of Christians in civil society. -- Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology

Author Bio

Miles Hollingworth is the author of Saint Augustine of Hippo, an intellectual biography of Saint Augustine. He is a past winner of the Jerwood Award, the Elizabeth Longford Scholarship and has been shortlisted for the Gladstone History Prize.