Lesson Plan: The Two Cities & The Three Witches

A Comparative Study of St. Augustine's *City of God* and *Charmed*

Materials Needed:

• Access to St. Augustine's The City of God (specifically Book 1, Chapter 1 and Book 14, Chapter 28). An online version like the one on New Advent or a physical copy is fine.
• Access to Charmed, Season 1, Episode 2: "I've Got You Under My Skin" (available on streaming services like Peacock or for purchase).
• A notebook and pen, or a digital document for taking notes.

1. Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Clearly define St. Augustine's concepts of the "City of God" (the heavenly city) and the "City of Man" (the earthly city).
• Analyze how the character of Piper Halliwell in "I've Got You Under My Skin" embodies the conflict between earthly attachments and a higher, spiritual calling.
• Compare the physical church in the episode with the abstract concept of the spiritual "City of God."
• Synthesize your analysis into a short, creative piece that demonstrates a deep understanding of the core themes.

2. Introduction: The Sacred and the Supernatural (15 minutes)

Let's start with a big idea. For centuries, thinkers have explored the tension between our everyday, material lives and a deeper, spiritual reality. St. Augustine, a theologian from the 4th century, famously described this as a conflict between two "cities" that every person lives in simultaneously.

On the other hand, we have pop culture, which often explores these same ideas in more accessible ways. *Charmed* is a perfect example: it's about three sisters juggling normal lives (jobs, romance, sibling squabbles) with an extraordinary, supernatural destiny.

Today, we're going to put these two worlds in conversation. Our focus will be on Piper's struggle in one specific episode and how it provides a surprisingly powerful illustration of Augustine's ancient ideas.

3. Activity 1: Deconstructing Augustine's Two Cities (30 minutes)

First, let's get a handle on Augustine's core concepts. Read the following short excerpts from The City of God. As you read, take notes on the key differences between the two cities.

Excerpt 1 (from 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 (from Book 1, Chapter 1): "For the things which the earthly city esteems as good are not to be placed in the same category with those which the heavenly city esteems good... a city where life is the victory of truth, where dignity is holiness, where peace is happiness, where life is eternity."

Guiding Questions for Your Notes:

• In your own words, what is the fundamental motivation for each city? (Hint: look at the "two loves").
• What does the City of Man value? (e.g., glory from men, self-love).
• What does the City of God value? (e.g., God, holiness, peace, truth).
• Augustine says we live in both at once. Can you think of a modern, everyday example of this tension? (e.g., wanting to post something on social media for likes vs. doing a kind act in private).

4. Activity 2: Analyzing Piper's Predicament (45 minutes)

Now, watch Charmed Season 1, Episode 2: "I've Got You Under My Skin." Pay very close attention to Piper's storyline. She's afraid to enter the church because she thinks she's a "sinner" or "evil" now that she's a witch.

Viewing Questions to Consider:

• The Physical Church: How is the church presented? Is it just a building? What does it represent to Piper *before* she goes in? What does it represent after?
• Piper's Internal Conflict: What is Piper afraid of? Is her fear about being physically zapped by lightning, or is it a deeper, more spiritual fear? This is her personal "two cities" conflict. Which side is winning at the beginning of the episode?
• The "City of Man": Piper is worried about her new identity as a witch. She's also juggling her job at Quake and her desire for a normal life. How do these concerns represent the "earthly city" — a focus on self, social identity, and worldly affairs?
• The "City of God": When Piper finally enters the church, she isn't rejected. In fact, she finds peace and her new power (freezing time) works there perfectly. How does this moment represent an aspect of the "heavenly city"? How does it show that her new powers are not inherently "evil," but can be part of a higher purpose (protecting the innocent)?
• The Resolution: How does Piper's understanding of herself and her powers change after she successfully enters the church?

5. Activity 3: The Synthesis - Bridging Two Worlds (15 minutes)

Let's connect the dots. Review your notes from both activities. On a fresh page, create two columns: "City of Man" and "City of God."

• Under "City of Man," list elements from both Augustine and Piper's story (e.g., Love of self, fear of judgment, desire for normalcy, concern with earthly identity).
• Under "City of God," list elements from both (e.g., Love of God/higher purpose, finding peace in a sacred space, using powers for good, contempt of self-doubt).

Looking at your chart, how does Piper's personal journey in this single episode serve as a narrative example of an individual grappling with their dual citizenship in these two cities?

6. Assessment: Creative Application (60 minutes)

Your task is to demonstrate your understanding by creating one of the following. Choose the one that feels most interesting to you. This should be about 300-500 words.

• Option A: The Analytical Blog Post. Write a short blog post titled "Why Piper Halliwell is a Modern Augustinian Hero." In it, explain Augustine's concepts and use specific examples from the episode to argue that Piper's struggle is a perfect modern-day illustration of the Two Cities theory.
• Option B: A "Deleted Scene" Script. Write a short scene that could have taken place right after Piper leaves the church. The scene should be a conversation between Piper and one of her sisters (Phoebe or Prue). In the dialogue, Piper must try to explain what she learned and felt inside the church, using language that reflects her new understanding of her spiritual self vs. her earthly fears.
• Option C: Piper's Diary Entry. Write a diary entry from Piper's perspective for the night after the events of the episode. She should reflect on her fear of the church, the relief she felt inside, and her new thoughts on what it means to be a "good person" versus a "witch." Have her wrestle with the ideas of her destiny versus her desires.

Evaluation Rubric:

• Clarity of Concept (40%): Does the project clearly and accurately represent Augustine's ideas of the two cities?
• Depth of Analysis (40%): Does the project use specific, relevant details from the *Charmed* episode to illustrate the concepts?
• Creativity and Voice (20%): Does the project successfully adopt the chosen format (blog, script, diary) and present the ideas in an engaging and original way?

7. Extension & Further Reflection (Optional)

If you enjoyed this, consider these questions for further thought:

• Does Prue's struggle with responsibility (earthly city) vs. her magical destiny (heavenly city) also fit this model?
• How does the "Power of Three" itself—a bond based on love and self-sacrifice for the greater good—align with Augustine's description of the City of God?
• Can you think of another character from a book, TV show, or movie who perfectly illustrates this conflict between the two cities?