St. Augustine of Hippo, the fourth century theologian, philosopher, and doctor of the church, shaped Christian theology in myriad ways. Multiple Christian denominations draw heavily on Augustine’s ideas about grace, original sin, free will, and the trinity. And now, with the election of Pope Leo XIV, an Augustinian priest is steering the entire global Catholic Church.
But one area of Augustine’s thought doesn’t get addressed as often: his beliefs about slavery. Did Augustine support the institution of slavery? How did he reconcile his beliefs with the gospel’s commitment to radical equality? And why, if we want to understand racism in the United States, do we need to go all the way back to a fourth century theologian’s theses about politics, society, and the relation of humanity to God?
On this episode of Glad You Asked, the hosts talk to Toni Alimi about Augustine’s ideas about slavery. Alimi is assistant professor in the Sage School of Philosophy at Cornell University. His research and teaching span ancient Roman philosophy, intellectual history, contemporary ethics and politics, and philosophy of religion. His book, Slaves of God, explores Augustine’s arguments slavery and argues that slavery is a central theme in his broader ethics and politics.
Learn more about this topic and Alimi’s scholarship in these links.
Slaves of God: Augustine and Other Romans on Religion and Politics, by Toni Alimi
Slaves of God | Princeton University Press
“Augustine was ‘wrong about slavery’: Book reexamines key figure,” by Kate Blackwood
Augustine was ‘wrong about slavery’: Book reexamines key figure | Sage School of Philosophy
“When did the church condemn slavery?” by Jacob Kohlhaas
When did the church condemn slavery? - U.S. Catholic
“How the U.S. Catholic Church profited from slavery,” A U.S. Catholic interview
How the U.S. Catholic Church profited from slavery - U.S. Catholic
“What did St. Augustine say about original sin?” by Kathleen Bonnette
What did St. Augustine say about original sin? - U.S. Catholic
Glad You Asked is sponsored by the Claretian Missionaries.
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