Instructions
This worksheet explores the surprising intersections between classical theology and contemporary popular culture. You will analyze themes from two of St. Augustine of Hippo's most influential works, Confessions and City of God, and compare them to a pivotal scene from the television show Charmed (Season 1, Episode 2, "I've Got You Under My Skin").
In the Charmed scene, Piper Halliwell, having recently discovered she is a witch, finds herself unable to enter a church. She fears her new nature has made her evil and thus unwelcome in a sacred space. This moment encapsulates her deep internal conflict. Read the background summaries and then answer the analytical questions that follow.
Background Summaries
- St. Augustine's Confessions (c. 400 AD): An autobiographical work detailing Augustine's spiritual journey. He recounts his youth filled with ambition, intellectual pride, and what he came to see as sin (particularly lust and theft). The book is a long prayer, tracing his intellectual and spiritual path away from these things and toward a complete submission to God, culminating in his conversion to Christianity. A central theme is the struggle between the fallen human will and the saving grace of God.
- St. Augustine's City of God (c. 426 AD): A cornerstone of Western thought, this book presents history as a conflict between two metaphorical "cities." The Earthly City (Civitas Terrena) is comprised of those who are motivated by love of self, to the point of contempt for God. The Heavenly City (Civitas Dei) is comprised of those motivated by the love of God, to the point of contempt for self. These two cities are mixed together in the world and will only be separated at the Last Judgment.
- Charmed S1E2, Piper's Church Scene: As one of the newly empowered "Charmed Ones," Piper struggles to reconcile her identity as a good person with her new status as a witch, a figure she associates with evil. She approaches a church, a symbol of traditional goodness and sanctuary, but stops at the entrance, feeling an invisible barrier. She explains to her sister Phoebe that she feels she can't go in, that because she's a witch, she is no longer welcome or "good enough" for such a holy place.
Section 1: The Internal Struggle & The Nature of Self
1. The Source of Conflict: Augustine's struggle in Confessions is with his actions and desires (his will), which he believes separate him from God. Piper's struggle is with her fundamental nature (being a witch), which she fears separates her from God. How does this distinction—struggling with what you do versus struggling with what you are—change the nature of the internal conflict? Explain.
2. The Path to Resolution: Augustine finds resolution through divine grace and a complete reorientation of his will toward God; he must change to be saved. In the broader context of the Charmed series, how does Piper find resolution? Does she reject her nature, or does she find salvation and acceptance elsewhere? Compare Augustine's path of transformation with Piper's path of redefinition.
Section 2: The Two Cities & Competing Worlds
3. Sacred and Profane Spaces: Augustine's "Two Cities" represent two communities defined by two different loves (love of self vs. love of God). How can Piper's experience at the church door be seen as a clash between two competing "cities" or communities? Define what these two communities are in Piper's context and what "love" or core value drives each one.
4. The Church as a Symbol: For Augustine, the visible Church on Earth is a mixed body, containing citizens of both the Earthly and Heavenly cities. In the Charmed scene, the church is presented as a purely holy space that seemingly rejects Piper. How does Piper’s perspective challenge the idea of the church as a universally welcoming sanctuary? Does the scene suggest the church's holiness is defined by exclusion?
Section 3: Defining Good and Evil
5. The Nature of Evil: A key Augustinian doctrine is that evil is not a "thing" in itself, but rather a privatio boni—a privation, or lack, of the good. It is a corruption of something that was created good. Charmed, however, often presents evil in a dualistic sense: as an active, independent force (personified by demons, warlocks, etc.) that directly opposes the good. How does Piper's fear reflect the show's more dualistic understanding of evil, as opposed to Augustine's concept of privation?
6. Synthesis & Conclusion: Both Augustine and Piper feel like outsiders to a sacred community due to a perceived flaw. Based on your analysis, what is the fundamental difference in how each narrative resolves this feeling of alienation? In your view, does one resolution (Augustine's or Piper's) feel more relevant to contemporary discussions of identity and community? Why?
Answer Key
Section 1: The Internal Struggle & The Nature of Self
1. The Source of Conflict: The distinction is crucial. Augustine's conflict is behavioral and volitional; he believes his soul is good but his will is weak and his actions are sinful. The solution is to correct his will. Piper's conflict is ontological; she fears her very essence or being is now "evil." This makes the problem seem insurmountable. If the problem is what you do, you can stop doing it. If the problem is what you are, you feel you cannot change your fundamental self, leading to despair or the need to redefine "good" and "evil" entirely.
2. The Path to Resolution: Augustine's path is one of transformation. He must surrender his flawed will to God's grace to be remade into a citizen of the Heavenly City. Piper's path is one of redefinition and acceptance. She does not reject her witchcraft; instead, she and her sisters redefine what it means to be a witch. They create their own moral code centered on protecting innocents and family ("The Power of Three"). Her "salvation" comes not from an external divine authority but from the immanent power of her sisterhood and her own self-acceptance. She doesn't change for the community (the church); she forms a new community that accepts her as she is.
Section 2: The Two Cities & Competing Worlds
3. Sacred and Profane Spaces: Piper stands at the intersection of two "cities." The first is the "City of Traditional Faith," represented by the church. Its driving value is adherence to established religious doctrine and a specific definition of holiness that, in her mind, excludes magic. The second is the "City of Magic" or the "Halliwell Matriarchy," which she has been born into. Its driving value is love of family and the duty to protect the innocent using their inherited power. The church door is the physical border between these two conflicting moral universes.
4. The Church as a Symbol: Piper's perspective frames the church not as a hospital for sinners (as it is often theologically described) but as a club for the righteous. Her feeling of being rejected suggests that the church's "holiness" is maintained by keeping perceived corruption out. This highlights a common critique of religious institutions: that they can become exclusive and judgmental rather than universally welcoming. The scene implies that the institution's definition of "sacred" is too narrow to contain her, forcing her to find or create a different kind of sacred space (her home, the bond with her sisters).
Section 3: Defining Good and Evil
5. The Nature of Evil: Piper's fear aligns with a dualistic or Manichaean worldview (which Augustine himself followed before converting). She fears that by becoming a witch, she has crossed over to "Team Evil," an active force that opposes "Team Good." She doesn't see her powers as a neutral, God-given attribute that could be misused (as Augustine might argue); she sees the power itself as a mark of corruption. For Augustine, her power would be inherently good because it is part of creation, but her will could direct it toward evil ends (a privation of its good purpose).
6. Synthesis & Conclusion: The fundamental difference is the locus of authority. Augustine's resolution requires submitting to an external, transcendent authority (God and the Church) and changing the self to align with it. Piper's resolution involves establishing an internal, familial authority (the Charmed Ones' destiny and moral code) and changing the definition of "good" to include her authentic self.
(Student answers on relevance will vary). A possible answer: Piper's resolution may feel more relevant to contemporary discussions, which often focus on identity politics, self-acceptance, and creating inclusive communities that validate diverse experiences, rather than asking individuals to conform to pre-existing, rigid structures. Conversely, one could argue Augustine's path speaks to a timeless desire for transcendence, purpose, and redemption from personal failings that is also highly relevant today.