Augustine's Pedagogy For Peace-building

Introduction

Our Holy Father Saint Augustine in his De Civitate Dei (XIX, 12-13; X-XXII) understands peace as the harmonic interaction of individuals with each other who must work consciously towards the achievement of peace and harmony in human society, mediated by their relationship with God, who inspires the human person towards virtue. Peace is not only limited to human persons, it is the general characteristic of everything that exists, be they animate or inanimate. Augustine connects unity and order with peace, holding that peace is a prerequisite for the maintenance of order or the unity of the entire parts of a thing. The implication is that that which loses its peace automatically loses its unity and order.

In the hierarchy of beings, with inanimate things at the bottom, the human person at the centre and God at the apex of this hierarchy, peace is measured according to the place of a being. With God as the ultimate source of being, unity and order, He does not only possess the highest level of peace but is peace itself. In this case, human persons and animate and inanimate things only possess degrees of peace and so, the ranking of peace increases from the bottom to the top of the hierarchy. It is, therefore, not surprising that in Saint Augustine, God occupies a fundamental place in the search for peace. And that Christ who is born at Christmas is introduced by the Prophet Isaiah (9:6) as the Prince of Peace.

Finding and Giving Peace

Augustine envisaged a universal peace for humanity, which is achieved through finding peace and working towards peace in human society. It all begins with finding peace within oneself, as a person cannot give what he or she does not have.

 a. Peace within Myself

Augustine believes that peace within a person comes from the harmony of the body and soul. The person who can give peace must have peace within himself or herself, and this peace is not possible outside of the presence of God within me. While describing the decision to resign his professorship before the early autumn vintage holiday, Augustine mentions his students: “Who did not meditate on Your Word or Your peace, but on foolish lies and legal battles” (De Vera Rel. 9:2.2). He believes that this peace is found in God who is within. In De Musica (4. 12. 18), he writes of God: “He is deep within the heart”. In his Confessions, he writes further:

“ Late have I loved You, 

Beauty ever ancient, ever new, 

Late have I loved You. 

Alas, You were within, 

I was without…. 

You were with me, but I was not with You. 

These things kept me far from You…

You called and shouted and You broke my deafness, 

You glittered and gleamed and routed my blindness, 

Your fragrance was such, that I drew my breath and inhaled You, 

I tasted, yet I remained hungry and thirsty, 

You touched me, and I continued to burn for your peace. ” (Confessions 10:27, 38)

b. Peace between Myself and Others

The peace discovered within is not meant for oneself; it is a peace that must be shared and given to others. The human person has been called to give peace to the world. In his Confessions, Augustine writes: “And since I loved the peace which is in virtue, and hated the discord which is in vice, I noted the unity there is in virtue and the division, as it were, there is in vice” (4:15, 24). It is through virtue that we give peace to others, and through vice, we take away the peace, not only of others but also of ourselves.

c. Peace between Myself and God

The human person has peace within when he or she has a good relationship with God. Saint Augustine writes in The Confessions “You have made us for yourself Oh Lord, and Our heart is restless until it rests in You” (10:38). He, therefore, understands peace as a divine gift and grace from God. Augustine refers to God as peace: “You, O God, the truth and fullness of our sure good, and our most pure peace” (De Beata Vita 4: 34). In another text he writes:

“ Oh, in peace! 

Oh, in (the direction of) the Selfsame! 

Oh, why did he say : 

‘ I will lie down and sleep.’... 

Surely, You are the Selfsame 

and You do not change. 

In You are rest 

and oblivion to all labour. 

There is no other besides You, 

nor are we to strive for the many other realities 

which are not what You are. ” (De Vera Rel. 9:4.11)

Working for Peace 

Peace for Saint Augustine is shared through the quality of our relationship with other persons with whom we share our existence. This gift of grace can be shared with others within the following contexts of dialogue:

a. Dialogue of life: It is through the dialogue of life that people of different faiths and spiritual traditions work towards living in an open and neighbourly spirit. It also involves an understanding of the realities that hold people together, which is life.

b. Dialogue of action: It is through the dialogue of action that people of spiritual commitment and faith collaborate with others in building a just society. This sense of collaboration in action helps in the unification and improvement of human society and relationships.

c. Dialogue of religious experience: The dialogue of religious experience helps people steeped in their spiritual traditions share their ways of searching for God – which includes prayer, worship, celebration, etc. This sense of sharing dispels ignorance and promotes a better understanding of each other. It also helps to reduce tensions between people of diverse religious affiliations. 

d. Dialogue of theological exchange: Dialogue of theological exchange provides an opportunity for specialists of different religions or faiths to seek to deepen their understanding of other spiritual heritages. This exchange promotes a better understanding of each other. Since most religious crises begin from the wrong teachings about other faiths in places of worship, it would further a better relationship between peoples of diverse faiths.

The Augustinian model for peace and dialogue is, therefore, one that has two steps: it begins with the discovery of peace within oneself with its source in God, and working towards the preservation of this peace in the human community through dialogue with people who are different from us.