St. Thomas Aquinas is a towering figure in the history of Christian theology and philosophy. Although his work has had a deep influence on the development of Catholic thought, it has been criticized by many thinkers in other Christian traditions, especially on the matters of natural law and natural theology. In this talk, Francis J. Beckwith explains how these critics are actually much closer to Aquinas than they realize. Beckwith points out that some of the very criticisms leveled against Aquinas’ views on natural law and natural theology are embraced by Aquinas himself! Beckwith also shows how Aquinas’ distinction between the preambles of faith (what we can know about God by reason) and the articles of faith (what we can know about God by revelation) can be helpful in answering the question of whether Christians, Muslims, and Jews worship the same God. Although Aquinas’ answer is “yes,” it is does not entail a kind of relativistic interreligious ecumenism.
Instructor
Francis J. Beckwith, Ph.D.
