Thomas Aquinas one of my favorite philosophers. He was the guy who wrote the most extensive apologetic in the midevil times so he deserves our recognition. Thomas aquinas answered the question in a very interesting way.
Aquinas thought the relationship between faith and reason could be answered if we made a distinguish between truths of reason and the truths of faith. Now what are the truths of reason? Well the truths are reason in a nutshell are truths that can be obtained through reason only such as philosophical investigation, scientific study, etc. The truths of faith are those which can not be obtained by such methods. Now in Christianity he thought that both truths exists. He said we can know God exists through reason. The arguments of natural theology render the existence of God to be the most reasonable thing a mad can conclude. So the existence of God is a truth of reason. But he asked a question well can we know by reason that God is triune? ( trinitarian concept of God) We obviously not. For example the Kalam Cosmological Argument will get me to God existence but from that conclusion can I say he is triune or he is loving? No we cannot. So in case you don't understand Thomas thought that religious truths or theological truths cannot be known by empirical investigation. Which leads us to the truths of faith.
The truths of faith are those which cannot be known be reason. Now let's be careful to say by reason. Thomas does not mean the truths of faith are beyond reason. Rather what he means that they cannot be known by a certain means of investigation. So how does one know the truths of faith? He thought we can know it indirectly. Thomas appealed to Augustine's thought. Authority but with a twist. Since the Bible is the word of God it must be true and have the highest authority. This is confirmed by the miracles and prophecy which shows the Scriptures to be from God. Therfore everything that the Bible teaches must be true. So the truths are faith are indeed true. So let me explain this again in case you didn't understand. The truths of faith cannot be know directly but indirectly by the authority of the Bible, since it's true the thing it teaches must also be true therefore the truths of faith must be true. But Thomas hit a problem the same one that plagued Augustine. How do we know the miracles and prophecy took place? Since they lacked the historical method of investigation. Thomas appealed to the miracle of the Church to prove the miracles and prophecy took place.
Also to note in Thomas work we see the word faith has been reduced in meaning. Since Thomas thought if you knew something by reason you cannot believe it by faith. So he reduced the word faith to mean a mere trust of commitment such as I know the chair won't break I know that it was built right but I put my trust that when I sit on it won't break. This is very important since the word faith as of today means this. Just a little history lesson. Well next time I will talk about more contemporary well not really thinkers.
Aquinas thought the relationship between faith and reason could be answered if we made a distinguish between truths of reason and the truths of faith. Now what are the truths of reason? Well the truths are reason in a nutshell are truths that can be obtained through reason only such as philosophical investigation, scientific study, etc. The truths of faith are those which can not be obtained by such methods. Now in Christianity he thought that both truths exists. He said we can know God exists through reason. The arguments of natural theology render the existence of God to be the most reasonable thing a mad can conclude. So the existence of God is a truth of reason. But he asked a question well can we know by reason that God is triune? ( trinitarian concept of God) We obviously not. For example the Kalam Cosmological Argument will get me to God existence but from that conclusion can I say he is triune or he is loving? No we cannot. So in case you don't understand Thomas thought that religious truths or theological truths cannot be known by empirical investigation. Which leads us to the truths of faith.
The truths of faith are those which cannot be known be reason. Now let's be careful to say by reason. Thomas does not mean the truths of faith are beyond reason. Rather what he means that they cannot be known by a certain means of investigation. So how does one know the truths of faith? He thought we can know it indirectly. Thomas appealed to Augustine's thought. Authority but with a twist. Since the Bible is the word of God it must be true and have the highest authority. This is confirmed by the miracles and prophecy which shows the Scriptures to be from God. Therfore everything that the Bible teaches must be true. So the truths are faith are indeed true. So let me explain this again in case you didn't understand. The truths of faith cannot be know directly but indirectly by the authority of the Bible, since it's true the thing it teaches must also be true therefore the truths of faith must be true. But Thomas hit a problem the same one that plagued Augustine. How do we know the miracles and prophecy took place? Since they lacked the historical method of investigation. Thomas appealed to the miracle of the Church to prove the miracles and prophecy took place.
Also to note in Thomas work we see the word faith has been reduced in meaning. Since Thomas thought if you knew something by reason you cannot believe it by faith. So he reduced the word faith to mean a mere trust of commitment such as I know the chair won't break I know that it was built right but I put my trust that when I sit on it won't break. This is very important since the word faith as of today means this. Just a little history lesson. Well next time I will talk about more contemporary well not really thinkers.
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