Christianity According to St. Augustine and Machiavelli Essay -- essay

In St. Augustines book entitled Political Writings, ane could see that the Nazareneianity plays a real important role in his resume of politics. His opinion on the clean-livingity or lack of morality in politics, to me makes it more evident that Christianity persuades his views. Although it seems his writings have become quite considerably known and admired, not everyone fully shared his beliefs. Niccolo Machiavelli, for instance, seemed to believe in a government that was not driven by morality, yet more by practicality. In, The Prince, Machiavelli stresses that the moral fibers of government should not be so soft. Like St. Augustine, his melt down went on to become one of the most famous books ever create verbally about politics. Throughout the two whole caboodle there are round similarities and differences regarding politics, however it their view of Christianity and morality that many find most intriguing. subsequently reading St. Augustines book it seemed to me that he had very little interest group in politics as a whole, but he did seem to have a a great interest on the moral problems that plagued them. The books that make up this work come from one of his previous works entitled, The City of God, in which Augustine discusses many different aspects of the city. Augustines view of Christianity in regard to politics was due to the moral decline of the Roman conglomerate and the effect of this decline on the still faithful Christians. Augustine blamed the non-Jew gods and their lack of concern for the moral character which defined those who worshiped them. He in like manner makes a reference to Platos Republic, in regards to the way Plato wanted to kick out the poets from his city in speech. Augustine also felt that there should be rugged censorship of the poets when writing about the gods because they made fools out of them. Augustine is also very concerned with the amount of people who in past invasions of their homelands escaped by lyi ng about being Christians and then turned their backs on Christ when the danger had subsided. Augustines work also raises the question of why favor is extended to the pious and ungrateful. Augustine responds by reminding everyone that, The sun rises upon the good and evil, and the rains fall upon the secure and the unjust. The book also discusses Gods patience with gentles and how the choice to repent ones sins lies within the man. He tells how some will recognize... ...in things, I do think it is dependable to say that they are both Christians. Although, without question St. Augustine is more in edge with his faith, he seems to be less in touch with politics. Machiavelli on the different hand does not separate man from what he sees to be his instinctive state of morality but uses it to the advantage of politics. When discussing Moses and his helping the Israelites escape to the guarantee land, Machiavelli mentions the miracles of Christ and states that God has done his pa rt and it is time for humans to do theirs. This leads me to think that he believes politics should not lack God but work in conjunction with him. To me St. Augustine is not educated only in his faith, but in the faiths of others as well and he shows no disagreement but more concern with how they are led morally in their beliefs. Machiavelli, however seems to be content with the use of religion as rotating shaft to secure the strength of the state. After fully reading the work I do not feel as though Machiavelli is as uncontrolled of a person as some would be led to think. I think he just had a better understanding of human nature and how it is commonly applied to politics.