One of the great cornerstones in the history of Christian philosophy, The City of God provides an insightful interpretation of the development of modern Western society and the origin of most Western thought. Contrasting earthly and heavenly cities--representing the omnipresent struggle between good and evil--Augustine explores human history in its relation to all eternity. In Thomas Merton's words, "The City of God is the autobiography of the Church written by the most Catholic of her great saints."This Modern Library Paperback Classics edition is a complete and unabridged version of the Marcus Dods translation."The human mind can understand truth only by thinking, as is clear from Augustine."--Saint Thomas Aquinas