The earthly city is characterized by pride and idolatry from "summary" of City of God by Saint Augustine (of Hippo)
In the earthly city, pride and idolatry reign supreme. The inhabitants of this city are consumed by their own self-importance, believing themselves to be the masters of their own fate. They worship themselves and their own desires, placing their own selfish ambitions above all else. This pride leads them to reject the true source of authority and goodness, instead choosing to follow their own flawed and misguided judgments. Idolatry further entrenches the inhabitants of the earthly city in their sinful ways. They create idols out of wealth, power, and material possessions, worshipping these false gods in place of the one true God. In their pursuit of these idols, they lose sight of what is truly important, forsaking the spiritual for the material. This idolatry blinds them to the truth, leading them further away from the path of righteousness. The pride and idolatry that characterize the earthly city are not only destructive to the individual soul but also to society as a whole. When a society is built on pride and idolatry, it becomes fragmented and divided, with each person looking out only for their own interests. This lack of unity and common purpose leads to conflict and strife, as each individual seeks to assert their own will over others.- The earthly city is a place of darkness and despair, where pride and idolatry hold sway. It is a city built on a faulty foundation, destined to crumble under the weight of its own sinfulness. Only by turning away from pride and idolatry and embracing humility and righteousness can the inhabitants of the earthly city hope to find redemption and salvation.
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