Eras and Icons: Heroes of Christian Faith

Eras and Icons, Episode 4: Listen and learn as we dive into history and discover valuable eternal truths.

By Clarissa Schuller

 

Recently I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Michael Coulter on two great heroes of the Christian faith: Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.

Coming into these interviews with Dr. Coulter, I admit I did not know very much. I had read portions of both Augustine and Aquinas’ work, but was not familiar with their own lives or much of the history surrounding the two figures. My efforts today will be to summarize some of the history I learned through these two interviews (and hopefully encourage readers to click the link below and watch these amazing stories)!

 

Augustine

Augustine was born in roughly 354 AD North Africa, which was part of the vast Roman Empire. He was born to a Christian mother, known by Christians as St. Monica, and a pagan father. The story goes that Augustine struggled with sin throughout his younger life. As a young man, he encountered and believed the Christian gospel in the summer of 386. At this point, Augustine changed his ways, joined the church, and later became the Bishop of Hippo (North Africa). 

Dr. Coulter and I focused much of our conversation on Augustine’s writings, primarily The City of God, which Augustine wrote in the early 400’s before his death in 430. The City of God was written shortly after the Sacking of Rome by the Visigoths in 410. Many Romans and Roman Christians particularly were discouraged and confused in the aftermath. Augustine hoped to encourage Christians to not lose hope, and to remind them of their citizenship in heaven. He attempts to describe a city on Earth and a city in Heaven, and how Christians should live and participate in both. 

A moment of our interview that I have found memorable was when Dr. Coulter suggested that all listeners should purchase and read a copy of Augustine’s Confessions. Since this recommendation, I have purchased and read (the beginning of) the Confessions. I understand why Dr. Coulter suggested this action, as my reading has already been so meaningful. 

 

Aquinas

Aquinas was alive about 800 years after Augustine. He was born in 1225, in the height of the Scholastic movement. Aquinas was born to a family of faith, who had great hopes for him to join the Benedictine order. Aquinas, instead, felt compelled to join a poor order of preachers called the Dominican order. Dr. Coulter explained that in the modern day, this could be like a family wanting their son to go to Yale, but he chooses to go to a small and newer college with less esteem instead. 

Aquinas, like many other scholastics, traveled, lectured, and learned throughout his life. He had extensive writings that examined the relationship between the human mind and the mind of God, culminating in his work The Summa Theologica. Dr. Coulter and I discussed Aquinas’ view of Natural Law, and how human law can help promulgate the goodness of eternal truths. We also explored how Aquinas’s ideas might apply in the modern world, which was especially interesting.

I would encourage readers to first, order and read a copy of Augustine’s Confessions, and second, subscribe to Eras & Icons on YouTube to hear more!

 

LISTEN to Episode 4 of Eras and Icons on Spotify

WATCH on YouTube

CATCH-UP on Dr. Coulter’s other appearance on Eras and Icons here!

 

Want to hear more? Tune in to Eras and Icons wherever you get your podcasts!

Available on Spotify, YouTube, and IHeartRadio. 

 

 

About the Author

Clarissa Schuller is a senior at Grove City College majoring in Political Science. In addition to working for the Institute as a Marketing Fellow, Clarissa serves as the President of the undergraduate Federalist Society Chapter at GCC. She also works on the Grove City Law Journal, and serves on Orientation Board and Crimson and White Alumni Society.

In the summer of 2023, Clarissa was an intern at the Akron City Prosecutor’s Office. There, she assisted prosecutors with traffic court, case details, and administrative duties. In the summer of 2024, Clarissa had an internship at The American Policy Roundtable, where she assisted with various research and voter preparation.

Most recently, Clarissa worked as a Congressional Intern in Washington D.C. in the summer of 2025. She is hoping to return to the Hill and work as Congressional staff while pursuing higher education.

READ MORE BY CLARISSA SCHULLER: Greenland: Our Next State or Complicated Military Deal?

LISTEN MORE: Welcome to Season 5 of Liberty Mail!

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grove City College, the Institute for Faith and Freedom, or their affiliates.

 

Cover Image: The Institute for Faith and Freedom

Captioned Image 1: The Institute for Faith and Freedom