Behind Varro’s classification of Roman religion into mythical, natural, and civic, Augustine discerns an interest, and a political one. Varro speaks harshly about the mythic or fabulous religions, for violating the dignity of immortal gods. Yet, the classification system serves to protect civic religion from similar condemnation.
On Augustine’s reading, Varro doesn’t believe in the civic religion any more than the fabulous, nor does he have any reason to. Augustine in fact deconstructs the opposition of civic/fabulous and shows they are essentially the same. But Varro must maintain the distinction because Rome needs its civic religion; it’s politically useful.
For shrewd cynicism, it’s an analysis worthy of Foucault.
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