4 - Augustine of Hippo

Summary

City of God 21.6, translation Marcus Dods

On Christian Doctrine 2.20.30–2.24.37, translation William Benton

Augustine of Hippo (b. 354 CE; d. 430 CE) was the first Christian author to develop a comprehensive theory of “magic”. Due to Augustine's impact upon Christian theology, this theory has had a lasting imprint on the Christian concept of “magic” up to the present day. The first excerpt is taken from his work City of God (De civitate dei) that was written in the aftermath of the pillage of Rome by the Visigoths in 410 CE. To explain this event, Augustine suggests a distinction between the “earthly” and the “divine” state. While the latter (the “City of God”) could be experienced only by those who believe in the eternal truths of Christianity, the earthly state could be ruled also by unholy satanic forces, among them “magic”.

In the excerpt (City of God 21.6), Augustine claims that “magic” (Latin magia) relies on a pact with demons, the henchmen of Satan who have taught “magic” to humankind in the first place. Accordingly, the material artefacts used in “magical” rites operate as “signs” that provide specific instructions to demons. Augustine develops a complex demonology in order to demonstrate that demons are responsible for the miraculous effects associated with “magic”. Due to their aerial bodies, acute senses and infinite lives, they can, at least to some extent, foresee the future (and they also put this “foreseen” future into effect: City of God 9.22).