Augustine’s Leaders
Augustine’s Leaders by Peter Iver Kaufman, published by Cascade Books in 2017, offers a critical examination of the views of Augustine, one of Christianity’s most influential theologians. This 194-page work delves into Augustine’s skepticism regarding the intersection of Christianity and political change, challenging contemporary interpretations that align his thoughts with modern liberal efforts. Kaufman explores the roles Augustine envisioned for religious and political leaders, as well as the expectations he held for figures such as emperors, statesmen, bishops, and pastors.
In this edition, readers will find a thorough analysis of the obstacles Augustine believed these leaders would encounter, alongside the pastoral and political challenges that shaped his expectations. Kaufman emphasizes Augustine’s advocacy for humility and compassion in a cultural landscape often dominated by celebrity and self-interest. The book engages with themes of biography, religious history, and Christian theology, providing insights into Augustine’s enduring influence on leadership within both religious and political spheres.
Official synopsis Publisher
In Augustine’s Leaders, Peter Iver Kaufman works from the premise that appropriations of Augustine endorsing contemporary liberal efforts to mix piety and politics are mistaken–that Augustine was skeptical about the prospects for involving Christianity in meaningful political change. His skepticism raises several questions for historians. What roles did one of the most influential Christian theologians set for religious and political leaders? What expectations did he have for emperors, statesmen, bishops, and pastors? What obstacles did he presume they would face? And what pastoral, polemical, and political challenges shaped Augustine’s expectations–and frustrations? Augustine’s Leaders answers those questions and underscores the leadership its subject provided as he continued to commend humility and compassion in religious and political cultures that seemed to him to reward, above all, celebrity and self-interest.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Augustine’s Leaders” about?
Who is the author of “Augustine’s Leaders”?
When was “Augustine’s Leaders” published?
What is the ISBN for “Augustine’s Leaders”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
