Summa Theologica
The Summa Theologica was an introductory text for theology students written by Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth century. It is considered "one of the classics of the history of philosophy and one of the most influential works of Western literature."[1], and is a foundational text for Catholics, and an important text among Anglo-Catholics, some Lutherans who identify as "Evangelical Catholics", and Calvinists. (Note: Evangelical and similar newer strains of post-19th Century Protestant and/or revivalist denominations Christianity aren't likely to take much interest in Aquinas's work.)
The text was written with a mind both attuned to Scripture and to Aristotelian philosophy; it can be very difficult to understand without first understanding Aristotelian philosophical concepts, such as 'movement', 'potentiality', and 'actuality' (which, incidentally, play a major role in one of Aquinas's arguments for the existence of God).
The format of most questions is such: Aquinas offers a point-of-view that he considers erroneous, and several reasons why that view might be true. Then he offers a rebuttal, his own point-of-view, and counterarguments to the, apparently, erroneous point-of-view.
Notable lessons include:
- "...That the happiness of the saints may be more delightful to them and that they may render more copious thanks to God for it, they are allowed to see perfectly the sufferings of the damned."[3] (In other words, when the saved see unrepentant sinners - which may include Nazis, communists, Mormons, gays, Jews, atheists, people who used contraception, people who use pornography, lawyers, and all the rest being char-broiled, you will be happy and praise God for His justice.)
- "...The blessed in glory will have no pity on the damned."[4] (That's right. Not a soul in Heaven will feel sad for the damned. Not one bit. Not for a single man and a single woman that would rather fuck in Hell together than be with God in Heaven. Not even for the executors of Saddam Hussein will be pitied, if they hated him.[5])
- "This is part of the infinite goodness of God, that he should allow evil to exist, and out of it produce good."[6] (That's right! Even Ray Comfort and his banana can bring good into the world, if only by reminding people what bad logic is.)
- " On this account it is forbidden to celebrate marriages at those times when men ought especially to arise to spiritual things." [7] (So no weddings at the best times to have weddings. No Christmas weddings, no Spring weddings, sometimes even no summer weddings. Goodness; did they all get married and then have a Halloween masquerade?)
[edit] Some Summaries of the Summa Theologica
- A Summa of the Summa by Peter Kreeft
- My Way of Life: The Summa Simplified for Everyone by the Confraternity of the Precious Blood
[edit] External links
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ Ross, James F., "Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae (ca. 1273), Christian Wisdom Explained Philosophically", in The Classics of Western Philosophy: A Reader's Guide, (eds.) Jorge J. E. Gracia, Gregory M. Reichberg, Bernard N. Schumacher (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2003), p. 165. [1]
- ↑ Summa Theologica, Prima Pars (Part 1), Question 2
- ↑ ST, STP, Q94
- ↑ ST, STP, Q94
- ↑ ST, PSP, Q29
- ↑ ST, PP, Q2, Article 3, Reply 1
- ↑ ST, STP, Q64, A10, Answer