From a Theology of “Two Cities” to a Theology of the “Kingdom of God”: Towards an Integral Spirituality of Liberation and Reconstruction for Africa

Abstract

Certain interpretation of this biblical line led to the development in the Catholic Church of the theology of “Two Cities.” Famously articulated by St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) in his De Civitate Dei contra Paganos, the prevailing interpretation since then has been that there are in existence two realities and two authorities in the life of the Christian: one called the “City of God” which is interior and perfect, and also superior and to be preferred, because spiritual and heavenly; the other, referred to as the “City of Man,” is imperfect, sinful, and therefore inferior, only to be tolerated because material and earthly. The one belongs to God, the other belongs to worldly powers