Lesson Plan: The Two Cities and The Three Sisters

A Comparative Study of Augustine's City of God and Charmed

Materials Needed:

• Access to stream or view Charmed, Season 1, Episode 2, "I've Got You Under My Skin."
• A word processor or notebook for writing.
• The provided text excerpts from Augustine's City of God (included below).

Part 1: Introduction & The Hook (10 minutes)

Let's begin with a couple of thought-provoking questions. Think about your favorite fantasy or supernatural stories (books, TV, movies).

• What makes a place "sacred" or "holy" in these stories? Is it a building, an object, or the intention of the people there?
• Can a character who is fundamentally "good" be rejected by a supposedly "holy" place? Why might that happen?

Today, we're going to explore these questions by putting a 1,600-year-old philosophical masterpiece in conversation with a beloved TV show. We'll examine how St. Augustine's ideas about the "City of God" can provide a fascinating lens for understanding a specific moment in Piper Halliwell's journey.

Part 2: Core Concepts - Understanding Augustine's Two Cities (15 minutes)

Saint Augustine wrote City of God after the sack of Rome in 410 AD. Pagans blamed Christians for the city's fall, claiming their new religion had angered the old gods. Augustine's response was to argue that there are two "cities" that exist simultaneously, defined not by location, but by love.

Read these core definitions and excerpts carefully:

Key Definitions:

• The Earthly City (City of Man): Formed by the love of self, even to the contempt of God. Its citizens seek earthly peace, glory, and material possessions. It is rooted in pride and domination.
• The Heavenly City (City of God): Formed by the love of God, even to the contempt of self. Its citizens are "pilgrims" on Earth, using earthly peace and things but with their hearts and ultimate hope set on eternal peace. It is rooted in humility and service.

Text Excerpts from City of God:

Excerpt 1 (Book 14, Chapter 28): "Two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self. The former, in a word, glories in itself, the latter in the Lord. For the one seeks glory from men; but the greatest glory of the other is God, the witness of conscience."

Excerpt 2 (Book 1, Chapter 35): "In this world, these two cities are entangled and mingled with one another, and they will remain so until the last judgment separates them. ... Many who are openly outside [the Church] are secretly inside, and many who are seemingly inside are secretly outside."

Discussion Questions:

• According to Augustine, what is the single most important factor that determines which city you belong to?
• What does he mean when he says the two cities are "entangled and mingled"? Can you think of a real-world example of this?
• Based on Excerpt 2, could a person who never attends a church building still be a citizen of the City of God? Could a priest or regular churchgoer actually be a citizen of the City of Man?

Part 3: The Case Study - Piper at the Church Doors (15 minutes)

Now, let's turn to our case study. Watch the scene from Charmed, Season 1, Episode 2 ("I've Got You Under My Skin") where Piper attempts to enter a church to get holy water to help Phoebe.

Scene Location: Approximately 29:30 - 30:30 into the episode.

As you watch, focus on these elements:

• The Action: What physically happens when Piper touches the church doors?
• Piper's Reaction: Describe her emotions. Is she angry, scared, confused?
• The Setting: What does the church look and feel like? Is it welcoming or imposing?
• The Symbolism: Piper is a "good witch" on a mission to save her sister from a demon. The church is a "holy" place. What is the central conflict here?

Part 4: Synthesis & Comparative Analysis (20 minutes)

This is where we connect the dots. Let's use Augustine's framework to analyze what happened to Piper.

Guiding Discussion Questions:

1. Using Augustine's definitions, does the church building in this scene represent the pure "City of God"? Or does it seem more like an institution of the "City of Man" that is merely named for God? What's your evidence?
2. Remember Augustine's idea that the visible church on Earth is a "mingled" body. How could Piper, a force for good, be rejected, while a potentially prideful or judgmental priest (a citizen of the City of Man) is allowed inside?
3. Let's get specific. Is Piper rejected because she is a "witch," or is there a deeper Augustinian interpretation? Could it be that her power, while used for good, is not derived from the "love of God" but from a different source, thus placing her outside the specific rules of that sacred space?
4. If Augustine were watching this scene, would he be surprised? Or would he say it perfectly illustrates his point that earthly institutions are flawed and that true "citizenship" is invisible and a matter of the heart?
5. How does the world of Charmed present its own version of "two cities"? Is it simply Good Magic vs. Evil Warlocks, or is it more complex, like the Magical Community vs. the Mortal World?

Part 5: Creative Application - A Heavenly and Earthly Debate (This is your main project)

Your task is to demonstrate your understanding not by writing an essay, but by creating a scene. This allows you to apply the philosophical concepts in a dynamic way.

The Prompt:

Write a 2-3 page script or short story depicting a conversation between two characters who have just witnessed Piper being rejected by the church.

• Character A: "The Pilgrim." This character is a true citizen of Augustine's City of God. They are humble, wise, and see things with an eternal perspective. They understand the difference between a holy building and true holiness.
• Character B: "The Statesman." This character is a citizen of Augustine's City of Man. They might be religious, but they are motivated by pride, order, reputation, and earthly power. They believe in rules, institutions, and outward appearances.

Your scene should capture how each character interprets the event. What do they argue about? What does each one miss that the other sees? Let their dialogue reveal their core motivations (love of God vs. love of self).

Success Criteria for Your Scene:

• Clarity of Voice: Each character's dialogue clearly reflects the worldview of their respective "City."
• Analytical Depth: The conversation goes beyond the surface ("a witch can't enter a church") to explore the deeper ideas of faith, institutions, and the nature of good.
• Creativity: Have fun with it! The setting can be a nearby cafe, the church steps, anywhere. The characters can be ancient spirits or modern people. The format is yours to command.

Part 6: Conclusion & Final Reflection (5 minutes)

Once you've completed your creative piece, consider this final question for reflection:

How did using a pop culture story like Charmed help you engage with and understand a complex, ancient text like City of God? Did it make the abstract ideas more concrete and relatable? In what ways?