Saints, Witches, and the Struggle for Goodness: An Augustinian Reading of *Charmed*

Materials Needed:

• Access to the internet for viewing and reading.
• A streaming service with *Charmed* (1998 series), specifically Season 1, Episode 2: "I've Got You Under My Skin."
• A digital or physical copy of curated excerpts from Augustine's works. Links provided here:
  • Confessions: Book II, Chapter IV (The Pear Theft) and Book VIII, Chapter V (The Divided Will). Recommended translation: Henry Chadwick. Findable via Project Gutenberg or similar academic sites.
  • City of God: Book XIV, Chapter 28 (The Two Cities Defined by Two Loves) and Book XI, Chapter 9 (The Nature of Evil as a Privation of Good). Findable via New Advent or similar theological/philosophical archives.
• A notebook and pen, or a word processor for taking notes.

Lesson Plan & Activities

Part 1: The Central Question — What Does It Mean to Be Good? (15 Minutes)

This lesson explores how we define "good" and "evil," and what happens when someone who feels they don't belong tries to access a space of "goodness." We will start with a thought-provoking scenario based on our media example.

Discussion Starter Questions:

• Imagine you suddenly discovered you had a power or identity that society considers "dark" or "unnatural." However, you still believe yourself to be a good person.
• How would you feel if you tried to enter a place you always considered safe and sacred—like a church, a temple, or a community center—and you were physically repelled or unable to enter?
• Would this rejection make you question your own goodness? Or would it make you question the nature of that "sacred" place?
• This is the exact dilemma faced by Piper Halliwell, a good witch, in the TV show *Charmed*. We are going to use the 1,600-year-old ideas of a philosopher named Augustine of Hippo to understand her struggle in a new way.

Part 2: Exploring Augustine's Philosophical Toolkit (45 Minutes)

St. Augustine was a theologian who deeply explored the human struggle between desire and spirit. His ideas give us a framework for analyzing Piper's conflict. We will read and discuss short, key excerpts.

1. Concept 1: The Divided Will (Confessions, Book VIII)
   • Read the Excerpt: Augustine describes feeling like he has two wills fighting inside him. One wants to serve God, and the other is bound by habit and earthly desires. He says, "It was I who willed, and I who was unwilling. It was I."
   • Discussion: How does this idea of being at war with yourself resonate with modern experiences? Think of trying to break a bad habit or make a life change. How is this an internal conflict, not an external one?
2. Concept 2: The Two Cities (City of God, Book XIV)
   • Read the Excerpt: Augustine argues there are two invisible "cities" or communities to which all humans belong. The City of Man is defined by "love of self, to the contempt of God." The City of God is defined by "love of God, to the contempt of self."
   • Discussion: This isn't about physical location; it's about what you love most. What actions or values would define a citizen of each city today? Can a person have a foot in both cities?
3. Concept 3: Evil as a Privation of Good (City of God, Book XI)
   • Read the Excerpt: Augustine argues that evil is not a substance or a force in itself. Instead, evil is a "privation"—a lack, corruption, or twisting of the good that should be there. Like a wound is a lack of healthy flesh, or darkness is the absence of light.
   • Discussion: This is a radical idea. How does it change how we might view "evil" people or actions? Does this view make evil less threatening, or more tragic? How does it contrast with fantasy stories where evil is a physical monster or a dark lord?

Part 3: Active Viewing — A Witch Goes to Church (30 Minutes)

Now we will watch key scenes from Charmed, Season 1, Episode 2: "I've Got You Under My Skin." As you watch, take notes specifically focused on connecting the episode to the Augustinian concepts we just discussed.

Scenes to Watch:

• The opening scenes where Piper expresses anxiety about being a witch.
• The scene where Piper tries to enter the church to see the boy she likes, but is stopped at the door by an invisible force. Note her reaction and her sisters' explanation.
• The final confrontation with the demon Javna.

Note-Taking Prompts:

• Piper's Divided Will: How does Piper's dialogue show she is at war with her new identity? What does she want, and what is she afraid of?
• The Church as a "City": Does the church in this scene represent the City of God? If so, why does it reject a good person? Is it possible the show is presenting a flawed, earthly version of a holy place?
• The Nature of Evil: The demon Javna feeds on youth. How could you describe his evil using Augustine's idea of "privation"? What good thing is he twisting or corrupting?

Part 4: The Synthesis — Connecting Augustine and Halliwell (30 Minutes)

This is where we bring it all together. Let's discuss how these two seemingly unrelated worlds illuminate one another.

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

• Based on Augustine's "Two Cities," what "love" defines Piper? Is it love of self (her desire for a normal life) or a different kind of love (for her family, for protecting innocents)? To which city is she striving to belong?
• Augustine believed his will was divided because of "original sin." The Charmed Ones believe Piper can't enter the church because "good and evil can't coexist in a holy place." How are these explanations similar? How are they critically different?
• Does the show *Charmed* agree with or challenge Augustine's idea that evil is just a privation of good? Does the existence of demons as powerful, active beings contradict his theory? Or do the demons themselves represent a corruption of something that was once good?
• If Augustine were to counsel Piper after her experience at the church, what might he say to her about her "divided will" and her identity?

Part 5: Creative Application Project (Assignment)

Your task is to demonstrate your understanding of this comparison by creating something new. Choose one of the following projects. Your work will be evaluated based on the depth of your analysis, your creative integration of concepts from both Augustine and *Charmed*, and the clarity of your expression.

Option A: The Analytical Essay

Write a 1,000-1,500 word essay titled: "A Citizen of Which City? Analyzing Piper Halliwell's Crisis of Faith Through an Augustinian Lens." In your essay, build an argument about how Augustine's concepts of the divided will, the Two Cities, and the nature of evil help explain Piper's character arc not just in this episode, but her potential journey as a witch.

Option B: The Missing Scene

Write a 3-4 page script for a conversation that takes place immediately after the church incident. The scene should feature Piper, Prue, and Phoebe. The dialogue must grapple with the themes we discussed. For example, one sister could (without knowing it) argue from an Augustinian perspective (e.g., "Maybe the problem isn't that you're evil, Piper, but that you *believe* you are," reflecting the divided will), while another takes a more simplistic, black-and-white view of good and evil.

Option C: A Modern Confession

Write a 500-750 word diary entry from Piper's point of view, but style it as a "confession" in the spirit of Augustine. She should address a higher power (God, the universe, her Grams, etc.) and wrestle with her feelings of being impure, her divided desires for a normal life versus her magical duties, and her profound confusion after being rejected by a place of good.

Assessment Rubric for Creative Project

• Thematic Analysis (40%): The project demonstrates a clear and insightful understanding of the selected Augustinian concepts and applies them thoughtfully to the *Charmed* episode. The connections made are not superficial but explore deeper meanings.
• Evidence & Detail (40%): The project effectively uses specific details, quotes, or plot points from both Augustine's texts and the *Charmed* episode to support its analysis or creative narrative.
• Creativity & Clarity (20%): The project is executed in a creative and engaging manner, fitting the chosen format. The writing is clear, well-organized, and effectively communicates its ideas.