There’s no question that we are living in a time of cultural upheaval, but it is nothing compared to the fall of Rome in 410 AD. Rome was considered the “eternal city” not only by pagans, but also by Christians who were equally distraught by its collapse. Civilization as they knew it had been shattered. And yet, despite the uncertainty and panic swirling around him, Augustine maintained his sense of balance and began writing The City of God just three years after the sack of Rome. When he completed the book 15 years later, Augustine gifted the church with an instant classic that would prove to be one of the most influential works in all of Western literature. In this episode, we speak with Princeton professor Eric Gregory about his personal faith commitments as a Christian, his concerns about the state of the broader Church in America, and his sense of why Augustine is such an important person for us to know and to read as we grapple with the tumultuous times of our own cultural moment. Eric Gregory is Professor of Religion at Princeton University and the author of Politics and the Order of Love: An Augustinian Ethic of Democratic Citizenship. A graduate of Harvard College, he earned a Master of Philosophy and Diploma in Theology from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and his doctorate in Religious Studies from Yale University. In addition to being an expert on Augustine, Eric teaches courses on religion, ethics, and politics.