Episode 96 - Rediscovering Augustine's Wiser Brother Navigius

The Christ Centred Cosmic Civilisation

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Augustine of Hippo towers over Christian theology, yet our understanding deepens dramatically when we see him through the lens of family relationships. This exploration of Augustine's older brother Navigius challenges centuries of dismissive portrayals and reveals a spiritually mature man whose wisdom often surpassed his more famous sibling's rhetorical brilliance.
The podcast begins by examining how Church Fathers are frequently misrepresented by those claiming theological authority. Modern interpreters often reduce these diverse thinkers to mouthpieces for contemporary denominational positions – Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Protestant – when the reality was far more complex and nuanced.
When examining Augustine's relationship with Navigius through his writings, particularly the Cassiacum dialogues, we discover a brother who saw through Augustine's dazzling rhetoric to identify logical fallacies and philosophical pitfalls. In one striking example, Navigius challenges Augustine's neo-Platonic assumptions about innate knowledge, advocating instead for evidence-based understanding – a position remarkably aligned with modern scientific approaches.
Historical records paint Navigius as deeply spiritual, raising children who became religious leaders and helping establish the Augustinian monastic tradition alongside his mother Monica. While Augustine's spiritual journey was dramatic and tumultuous, Navigius lived a consistently faithful life that bore abundant fruit. His biblical wisdom manifested in knowing when to speak and when to remain silent, when to challenge and when to support his brilliant but sometimes misguided brother.
This fresh perspective doesn't diminish Augustine's theological importance but makes him more human and relatable. By meeting Augustine's family, particularly his wise older brother, we gain deeper appreciation for the saint himself and the complex human relationships that shaped his thinking. Augustine's family reminds us that wisdom manifests not just in eloquent treatises but in quiet faithfulness and lived spirituality.

The theme music is "Wager with Angels" by Nathan Moore

Chapters

1. Meeting Augustine's Brother Navigius (00:00:00)

2. Myth vs Reality of Church Fathers (00:06:29)

3. Ideological Baggage Around Augustine (00:14:10)

4. Navigius: Unfairly Dismissed? (00:22:29)

5. The Philosophical Dialogues (00:28:52)

6. Navigius's Spiritual Legacy (00:31:35)