After the fall of Rome, there was an odd period between the time of the Roman Empire, and the Holy Roman Empire. Time was occupied by religious exploration, and Frankish growth and rule. This was a pivotal time in the evolution of what our civilization has become, especially when we think of today’s common world view. Augustine of Hippo was one of many who shaped this worldview, particularly with his books, one of his books closely associated with the religion of the time was titled The City of God.
God gives an ultimate standard to those who choose to believe in Him. If God is the ultimate high in one’s hierarchy, no one can achieve it, but everyone can strive for it, and it makes them all the better. In a way this gives us happiness, as it gives us a purpose, and hope to obtain some goal as we as people go the journey of life. Those who do not have religion in their lives can be perfectly nice optimistic people, but more often than not, in a way, they have less potential to experience depth of meaning, at least not the way religious people do. They can have goals. Movement toward those goals can give them a sense of meaning and thus happiness. But their goals are less nested in higher things and the sense of meaning more fleeting. Their ultimate high is a material thing, a petty imperfect thing. Their highest principle might be who they already are which is certainly an obtainable position in a moral hierarchy. This tends to make people petty, with no need to not be imperfect, no need to better one’s self.
This concept is further explored by Augustine (AD 354–430), who wrote briefly before the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Augustine wrote many books, including one The City of God. This book, among many other things, describes the difference between a good and true Christian, and a false Christian. In the hierarchy just described, Christians believe in the Lord, and welcome His judgment while attempting to improve one’s self. However, during the time of the Frankish rule (united under Clovis I in AD 509 until 840 when Louis The Pious split the kingdom for his sons), people would claim to be Christian for one’s own benefit. People converted to follow their king’s lead. Some would even believe themselves that they were Christian, but to make themselves feel good, or to worship the emperor before the Lord.
For a Christian to have their religion for their own benefit is a lie, whether to themselves or the world. This is not a true Christian. This is a person who believes in material things in the hierarchy being the goal to strive for in life whereas God is who you look to for no more than forgiveness and assistance. This makes a petty, imperfect, sinful person, who in Augustine’s analogy of The City of God, is not welcome with those who worship God, is not welcome in God’s city. This is the sin of vanity, of unnecessary self-preservation and the ultimate consequence of it, a loss of one’s self.
Commentaires