St. Augustine provides a pragmatic model for understanding the nature of humanity, rooted in the doctrine of original sin and culminating in final judgment. Nevertheless, this model struggles with bearing complexity. In Augustine’s model, he does not acknowledge that “goodness” and “wickedness” are two social constructs that a collective has traditionally deemed as good and evil. We subsequently argue that Augustine’s model continues to have contemporary influence—particularly in the politics surrounding traditionally “good” books like the Bible and the censorship of other works. St. Augustine’s devotion to Christianity and the Christian Bible serves a metonymic function in contemporary politics, symbolizing something far greater than a book or set of philosophical ideas. Today, the Bible and Christian morals are often utilized as tools of political manipulation.

In this episode, we explore these themes by analyzing Augustine’s linear narrative and the influence of religious narratives on contemporary politics.