Augustine Quote by Thomas F. Madden
““Augustine recast how people should view history, that history was not the story of the rise and fall of empires because those are human things. Those are the city of man. Rather, true history should be the history of salvation, of man moving toward God. It's a focus that takes the light off of this world and shines it much more brightly on the next world.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The History of Christian Thought, Thomas F. Madden, 2005
History should be seen as humanity's spiritual journey toward salvation, not merely political rise and fall.
In simple terms: History is about spiritual progress, not just empires.
Key Takeaway
Focus on spiritual meaning in history.
Themes
history
spirituality
purpose
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- religious education
- personal reflection
- church teaching
- academic study
Key Concepts
theology
philosophy
historical narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- What does a salvation‑focused view change our understanding of past events?
- How can we integrate spiritual meaning into historical study?
A Different Perspective
Secular narratives may overlook spiritual dimensions.
![“Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul [of Tarsus], Teresa of Avila, Joseph Ratzinger, and Edith Stein-in all their intellectual rigor-as allies in the the struggle against this dismissive atheism.” quote by Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86d/robert-barron-13186_allies_again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheis_35728.jpg)
