Questions about Aquinas

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Toasty

Puritan Board Sophomore
Here are two quotes from Aquinas taken from the book, Nature and Grace: Selections from the
Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas.


"The teaching of Aquinas contrasts with that of Augustine on every point which we have mentioned,representing a kindlier view both of man and of nature. The will is free, and the natural desire for the good persists despite sin. Aquinas is more definite than Augustine that reason itself is impaired by sin. But he holds that it can be used, and that we must follow our reason as far as it will take us. Grace and revelation are aids which do not negate reason. Here as everywhere nature itself demands supernature for its completion, and the provision of divine grace meets the striving of human nature in its search for the ultimate good, this quest being itself due to the gracious moving of God. In so far as they are, created things are good, and in so far as they are and are good, they reflect the being of God who is their first cause. The natural knowledge of God is therefore possible through the knowledge of creatures. Not only so, but there is no human knowledge of God which does not depend on the knowledge of creatures."

"On the first point: the existence of God, and similar things which can be known by natural reason as Rom., ch. i, affirms, are not articles of faith, but preambles to the articles. Faith presupposes natural knowledge as grace presupposes nature, and as perfection presupposes what can be perfected. There is no reason, however, why what is in itself demonstrable and knowable should not be accepted in faith by one who cannot understand the demonstration of it."

Did Aquinas take into consideration that believers and unbelievers are not going to interpret what they experience through their senses due to their different worldviews?

Did Aquinas believe that people need the Scriptures in order to correct any misunderstandings they have about God?

Did Aquinas believe that the unbeliever's beliefs about God are headed in the right direction, but need the Bible in order to get more information about God?

What does it mean for the supernature to complete nature?

Did Aquinas believe that everyone knows God, but people are born suppressing the truth in unrighteousness?
 
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