1) It seems that, besides philosophical science, we have no need of any further knowledge. For man should not seek to know what is above reason: "Seek not the things that are too high for thee" (Sirach 3:22)." upon first reading that statement I completely disagreed. We, as humans, all strive to learn more about not only our faith, but things outside of our faith. We need all forms of knowledge, not strictly just one. We are curious, born curious, and it is in our nature to want to learn more and constantly ask questions.
2) That sacred doctrines are in fact a science. His explanation as to why in objection 2, and his reply to objection 2 fully support his claim as to why sacred doctrines are a science or "sacred science"
In response to the question on the syllabus ( I couldn't remember if you said we had to respond to that or not, my apologies!) Is that, yes, it is very important to study theology. Why? As we said in class, and these are my thoughts as well, is that we need to grow in our faith so we can understand more about life and our faith.
Kate Shannon
1. Aquinas quotes Scripture saying that all Scripture is profitable to teach, reprove, correct, instruct in justice. He then goes on to say that philosophy doesn't deal with Scripture. Therefore, he reasons because Scripture is too useful to just leave out of our study altogether, we should have another science that deals with it. From my perspective, it seems like he should have explained WHY Scripture was so useful - all we have here is a statement without backing, which is sort of leaving me confused. While I agree that it's true, it doesn't give me a good grasp of the argument as a whole if I have to project my own interpretation of what he's telling me onto what I'm reading. But... that aside...
2. Revealed knowledge necessary for salvation. It makes sense that certain things would be above our intellect, since our intellects are finite and God's is infinite, and, chances are, one of the things we need to know for our salvation (which is a complex subject) is something we may not be able to arrive at on our own.
a. God is men's end, and surpasses human reason. Humans need to have some knowledge of this end to reach it (and therefore reach heaven), so it was necessary for God to reveal some things. Even those things which we could figure out on our own God revealed, because if not, only a few would know them after a very long time, and they would be intermingled with many errors. This all seems reasoned out well - we discussed in philosophy last semester that these doctrines are so complex that it would take a while to reach them, during which time we might error.
3. St. Thomas also discusses that, although we are not permitted to seek what is above reason on our own (he doesn't explain why beyond explaining that the objection is based in Scripture), we are obligated to believe certain doctrines once they are revealed by God. This isn't really essential to his central argument, so I'm not going to comment... he seems to be responding to an objection that may have been an issue at the time he was writing.
4. Finally, he discusses that there is no reason why things revealed by philosophy should not also have the study of theology to look into them. Fairly self-explanatory - why not?
Chelsey Sterling
I don't believe we should study theology, because theology is just a bunch of beliefs. To force someone to study theology, you are forcing them to study beliefs that they may or may not believe in. AS mentioned in the text, science is something we should have to study, it is useful in our everyday lives and it is important in understanding what goes on in our everyday lives. Theology is not something that is important to our everyday life. We should focus on our own beliefs and not have to learn about someone else's. I find theology and philosophy very similar. When the text stated that the only knowledge we need is philosophical knowledge, I found that very wrong. I think that putting trust in your beliefs is all you need. The study of theology may be important to some people but I do not believe it is necessary. Theology is putting new beliefs into a persons mind and making them think that is what they have to believe in.
ReplyDelete-Lindsey Ritter
I think it's necessary to study theology, but I don't think it should be categorized as a science. When I think of a science course, there are questions that can be answered with proof. Also, science always changes. I cannot expect my questions to change Christianity. In fact, even if someone came up with the most amazing answer regarding something in a sacred text, it probably will not change the sacred text. I feel like those texts are written in stone and are pretty much resistant to change. I feel like theology should be put under history because it involves things like names, events, stories whether they're true or not, symbolism, etc...
ReplyDeleteTheology is important because it involves a sort of comfort regarding all of our unanswered questions... I can ask questions like is there a God? is there an afterlife? But I won't really find out here because like Aquinas said, the things we know for sure through sacred texts are necessary... "it was necessary that man should be taught by divine revelation". If I wasn't taught the questions I have, then maybe I'm not meant to know them yet, but at least theology is some sort of consolation for that. It's inevitable that humans will ask questions like why are we here? Is there a God? Is there an afterlife? So since it's something we all do and want to know what others think, then why not make a course about it???
-Katie Lamb
It seems that "science" came to refer to such things as chemistry, biology, engineering, etc. more on a societal agreement then anything else. This is why most people refer to these as sciences (and nothing else as sciences) because it was all we have ever know, it has been taught to us by the general opinion of society.
ReplyDeleteIf one references the dictionary (www.oed.com), science can be defined as knowledge in the pursuit of truth. This definitely applies to Theology. Theology is the study of a particular set of truths. The sacred texts never change for they are truth inspired by the revelation of God, however we can have truths set in clearer terms for the Catholic population, i.e. the Pope speaking ex cathedra about the Virgin Mary.
The study of theology is not a course that forces new beliefs on the students. Rather it is a course that takes old and established beliefs and explains the truths behind them. "Theology" implies studying, that is exactly what it is, studying the precepts of religion, not one religion but all religions. Gaining knowledge of these religions does not mean that they are being enforced on you, rather that you are given a choice that is fully rationalized: to follow or to not.
~Nicholas Shields
In addition to what Nick proposed, I would also like to draw attention to the two distinct forms of science St. Thomas Aquinas explains: one that is created from our own human intelligence and reason, and another that is born from another higher science.
ReplyDeleteSince faith is a science where, "saving faith is begotten, nourished, protected, and strengthened..." (I'd like to add in here that it's also from God), it is complete self-contained. In other words, the faith aspect of this is self-sustaining, but its ultimate source, God, is truly the higher science the embodiment of knowledge in search of the truth.
I found all of this fascinating. Great comments so far guys=)
Going to a private Catholic school for over twelve years I never had a choice not to study theology. For as long as I remember I have been taught theology and I think that it has been a positive experience. I think we should study theology so we can become more aware of not only our personal faith, but the faiths of others. If we are open and learn the different faiths, I think we will become more understanding of people who are different than ourselves and hopefully realize the man similarities we share. Also, like Thomas Aquinas said, you need more than just one point of view of what is sacred.
ReplyDeleteNicole Dillon
Faith is a very personal subject and varies from person to person. I belive religion is significant to everyday life and should be sought after and understood, yet it should not be forced as a study. Religion should be pursued willingly and receptively, not because one is required to do so. When faith is taught in a classroom, it is almost as if it is being approached as any other subject as opposed to the essential and powerful topic that it is. One's beliefs when concerning theology should be decided and explained within's one's own self, not through forced and required teachings . Faith is not a science, it is not continually modified, improved, requiring data and evidence, but a definite understanding of one's personal beliefs with or without proof, and should be respected and treated as such.
ReplyDelete-Samantha Smedley
I believe we should study theology in order to obtain further knowledge from God and also to satisfy our desire to know the truth. We must "direct our thoughts and actions to the end" so that we may learn "divine truths by divine revelation." (Summa Theologia, Article 1) Once our knowledge has been obtained, we must accept it by faith as truth, whether it be from "principles known by the natural light of intelligence...[or] principles known by the light of a higher science." (Summa Theologia, Article 2)
ReplyDelete~Caitlin Gorecki
I don't think that knowledge of philosophy and theology should be so divided. Philosophy attempts to present knowledge through reason (without the assistance of divine revelation). Theology takes the knowledge acquired by reason in philosophy and takes it to the next level by incorporating divine revelation. As others have said, it is natural to be curious and to desire to grow in knowledge; once one comes to an understanding of philosophical science, one may continue to grow in knowledge through the study of theology. Since all knowledge comes from God, and all people seek knowledge, the study of theology makes sense.
ReplyDeleteSara K. Smith
I gained an interesting idea from the article. It seemed that Aquinas was arguing for a closer relationship between religion and the more reason based philosophy which appears to represent science. Though at the same time, Aquinas would argue his beliefs over and over and not seem to gain anything out of what he is saying. He believes that Theology is almost a science which I think it is not true because theology is just a collection of some people's beliefs fit into a book and far to easy to argue the other side. Though sacred doctrine is not a science which is indeed what Theology studies.
ReplyDeleteI think that I can say that I am bias when answering this question. For my entire life I have studied Theology, not by choice, but by default as a result of going to Catholic schools. I think that my decision to come to CUA was eased by the fact that I knew that I would be taking Theology courses. Most prospective students that come from non-religious affiliated high schools may have some reservations about coming to CUA and taking Theology courses.
ReplyDeleteWhether this is the case or not, I think that Theology courses are beneficial to any type of student, religious or not. The lessons taught in Theology courses are vital to any type of person. The thought that is provoked by theological questions about a person's life are types of questions that are not asked in normal academic courses.
Thomas Berry
I do not think it is necessary to study Theology because everyone has their own beliefs. I think it is wrong to try to teach people things they most likely will not also believe. I think everyone has their own beliefs, and they shouldn't need to go to a class to listen to something that may or may not touch their beliefs. Also, a lot of people were forced to attend Catholic school most of their lives. Those people who've attended religious schools should not have to further their education in religion.
ReplyDelete-ELISE ARIENS
I believe that theology is definitely a science. It is the study of the truths of God. As Nick said, while the texts do not change, our questions do lead to a clearer understanding of these truths. Through the study of theology we come to a better understanding of our faith, which, in my opinion, is very important. I think it is much better to ask questions, and learn more about God, then to just blindly believe everything that we are supposed to believe as Christians.
ReplyDelete-Tom May
I do believe that it is important to study theology and that it is definitely a science. Theology helps people to grow in there faith, no matter what beliefs you may have it is important to have a belief system and be hopeful. I think that a person should be spiritual in order to stay on a positive path in life. Ultimately theology can be seen as a science because in science you have to present a hypothesis which is an theory that can be tested.Theology is a good example of that because God can be tested in many ways through the impact that he makes in people's lives.
ReplyDelete- jewel alli
It seems pretty clear to me that theology itself goes far above and beyond philosophy. Theology by definition draws as its foundation those things that supersede man's knowledge. As to whether or not it is a science, that is a tougher question. It seems to depend on how you define science. If you define it, as some do, as the study of nature or observable reality or something like that, then theology clearly goes above and beyond that. It seems, however, that Aquinas is simply looking at whether or not theology is an academic pursuit at all. With that definition, I think he demonstrates quite thoroughly that theology is as much a science as any other pursuit such as geometry or physics.
ReplyDelete-Nathaniel Hlavin
We should study theology. In the Summa, Thomas Aquinas says that it is a duty for man to accept the faith even though it is possibly incomprehensible. God obviously understands the limitations of man's knowledge and understanding, so He would only reveal doctrine according to what it is important for us to know. We should also study science, because since God gave us understanding, He would want us to understand the world around us.
ReplyDeleteEkaterina Kursileva Salsano
Objectively, the study of theology allows one to gain immense knowledge of the world around them. People live out their faith, and understanding their set of beliefs is essential in understanding why they act as they do. Aquinas supports the notion of studying theology (including sacred doctrine) for a separate reason. He finds that man is naturally directed to an end which includes God (the supreme truth). The intense study of God is necessary in order to begin to understand this divine truth that God offers to us. Salvation, according to Aquinas, will be impossible without embracing a higher science.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that it is important to study theology; it is an important part of learning. As Thomas Aquinas stated, it is “necessary for the salvation of man that certain truths which exceed human reason should be made known to him.” Theology is also important because it spans so many different places and cultures; exploring something that connects us all is helpful, whether or not it is “above reason.” That said, I don’t agree with all of Thomas Aquinas’s logic. He claims in his second article that sacred doctrine is a science because “it proceeds from principles established by…the science of God.” However, I believe that what falls under the category of science are ideas that are accepted by many and refuted by few. The reason why we have so many different religions is because not everyone agrees on the same idea. Other noted forms of science in the article, however, are used in many different cultures and places because they are facts recognized by all. Therefore, I see a clear difference between science and sacred doctrine.
ReplyDelete-Tori McAllister
I believe that it is wrong to have Theology as a class you have to take. I do believe theology is important and that is should be taught, but many people have different views on theology. Therefore, to have this class as a mandatory class is not right, its like you are trying to teach a group of people the same thing. After going to a Catholic middle school and having religion has a class i had to take, it was fine, in middle school though. To some people, they could use this class credits for another class. Overall, I dont think that this class should be taught in college for many reasons.
ReplyDeletemary vogt
I think it is truly your own decision whether or not you want to study theology. If you do not believe in God or in religion or anything of that nature then you probably wont want to or have a desire to study theology. However if you believe in a God and you have some faith and you want to know more about that faith than you might want to study theology and gather some insight.
ReplyDelete-Nick Darin
In the article presented, Thomas Aquinas explains and defends his beliefs regarding the importance of knowledge that exists apart from the knowledge of philosophical science. His pursuit of knowledge and truth includes learning that has not been arrived at by human reasoning. He looks to knowledge revealed by God as being necessary especially when it comes to man's salvation. He points out that where God is concerned there are some truths that are beyond man's understanding that must be accepted by faith. This is how he explains the need for further knowledge in addition to that philosophical science. Thomas Aquinas continues to state that sacred doctrine is a science because like other principles it comes from a higher science, in this case God. Upon reflecting on both articles I agree with the idea that there is other knowledge, which can only be revealed by God alone. Along with this I recognize how sacred doctrine can be explained as a science whose principles are revealed by God.
ReplyDelete--Carolyn Spero
I believe that anyone going to a higher learning institution should study the patterns in human behavior when it comes to the phenomenon of faith. However, whether we should study theology or not depends on if we are studying religion in general or a specific religion. I believe if we are to study religion in general theology should be considered a social science, because while there are patterns, we as humans interpret religion and faith differently. I also believe it is necessary to have a basic understanding to why people all over the world have belief and faith in something greater than themselves.
ReplyDelete-Charles Clunk
Studying theology is vital to humans' pursuit of truth. Whether you consider it a social or natural science, theology is something which should be explored and studied with an open mind, considering the many different views of God and religion that are harboured in varying cultures. According to Thomas Aquinas, God must reveal part of the truths which we strive towards, and with that revelation we can use our intellectual abilites to reason and journey closer towards the goal of truth, which is God.
ReplyDelete~Risa Eskew
I believe that Theology is very important to study because of the role which it has played through out history and even to this day the impact that it has on us. In different regions of the world there are different religious views which shape the world around us making it necessary to study theology to gain an understanding for these cultures. Humans around the world interpret faith differently, and it has different affects on societies. I feel that by studying theology we can get a better understanding why we have beliefs and faith, in beings and things that are greater than us.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Thoman Aquinas; that the study of Theology is equally as important as the study of Philosophy. Both of these subjects are more important than the study of other sciences. I feel this way because both Theology and Philosophy aim at seeking the truth and finding the best way to live. A person who lives with no morals and no concept of how they should live can not possibly be sucessful in their lives. Philosophy and Theology help individuals to understand life and God more fully, and it leads them to live more fulfilled life. Because of this, Aquinas is right is saying that Theology, like Philosophy, is the most important science.
ReplyDeleteWhether or not Theology is, indeed, an academic study, in my opinion, is irrelevant. For someone to say that they think they should be given the freedom to pursue faith on their own because they do not want to be forced to believe something they are “being forced to learn” is simply illogical reasoning. Of course, it is imperative to take part in an active individual faith life of some sort. This makes us human and gives us foundations for our lives. However, part of developing a strong faith is the gaining of knowledge of both one’s own and other theological ideas. Studying theology enables one to gain a better understanding of what and why we and people of other faiths believe the things they do. To be “forced” to take a theology class about a religion that, perhaps, you are not a part of is a very different thing than to be “forced” to apply the teachings to your life. To someone genuinely interested in growing in faith, I would imagine the study of theology would be gratefully implemented to his or her advantage.
ReplyDeleteKristen Gotlund
I believe that it is very necessary for Christians to study Theology. Whether it is as important to study a religion other than your own is a different story. In regards to Christians, I think that all should learn more about Christianity in order for them to grow in their faith. As we discussed last class, faith is a series of questions and answers; without such curiosity in one's faith, it is impossible to grow in faith and understanding. Agreeing with Thomas Aquinas, "Man's whole salvation...depends on the knowledge of this truth...it was necessary that they should be taught divine truths by divine revelation." Since God is above our own reason, there is no way that we may learn, know, and truly understand components of our faith without God revealing them to us. Therefore, in order to strengthen our faith and relationship in God, we must study Theology so we may hope to find the answers to our questions.
ReplyDelete-Elisabeth O'Toole
In my experience, the purpose of education is to essentially force students to learn about subjects they otherwise wouldn't be motivated to explore. In all honesty, would any of us have studied algebra or made our way through endless classic literature unless graduating from high school depended on doing so? Even though we whined and complained, having studied those subjects made us more well-rounded members of society. Though I'll never pursue a career in technology,the science and math courses I've taken have made me a better problem solver because the same basic principles that were taught can be applied to everyday life. Accordingly, I do believe that theology should be taught: whether one is religious or not, such courses give us a greater understanding of those who do believe in some higher power, and can help confirm one's own convictions or lack thereof about God. Furthermore, the subject should be considered a science--though there aren't any exact answers, as others on this forum have pointed out, theological methods of questioning what we believe and why are applicable to many other life situations. Ultimately, theology should be taught to ensure that our generation does not remain ignorant to the beliefs of others, or blind to the real meaning behind our own faith.
ReplyDelete--Kat Hermanson
I do not think we need to study theology because theology is a set of beliefs and everyone is entitled to have their own. I think saying we have to study theology is like forcing someone to believe certain things. Though I say we do not need to study I think if we do study theology it can help you grow your belief system. Categorizing theology as a science at first didn't make sense but then as I thought about it more it seemed to make sense. A lot of science is based on how things are made and how they came about and theology is beliefs about how things were created and how they came to be.
ReplyDeleteCourtney Geary
I believe that we should study theology to learn about the opinions of others and what they believe. When learning about what other people believe in, it is easier for you to make your own opinion in which agree or disagree. You can form your own opinions taking the knowledge you have learned. The more educated you are on topics, especially theology the more you will be able to back up your beliefs.
ReplyDelete-Katelyn Bockin
I think we should study theology because through the study of any topic one understands the purpose and reasons for it. Questions are answered as well as asked through this study. Yes theology can be construed as your own personal beliefs but studying the general idea of theology and why theologies exist can help us understand our own personal faith within our distinct theology. There can be no harm in studying theology. It does not mean that you have to believe it. It is up to you to make your own interpretations from what you learn from your studies about your faith.
ReplyDeleteTheology can be seen as a science as Aquinas points out and I agree with him. At some points of his conclusion I was a little confused but the theme I grasped was that theology is a science because it reveals solutions just as arithmetic or geometry or chemistry would. They are all "self-evident"
Emma Leary
Whether or not you agree with the ideas taught in a theology course, I think it is important for one to learn these ideas. Gaining knowledge doesn't not necessarily mean believing and not questioning everything you learn. I think the argument that "If I don't believe it, I don't have to learn it." is irrelevant to the discussion especially since there are many people who don't believe everything they hear in every course. This does not mean, though, that the knowledge wouldn't be helpful. I believe theology is a vital part in the curriculum simply because it will round out one's general knowledge of the world around them.
ReplyDeleteFor Christians, I believe that the study of Theology is just as important as the study of philosophical science. Humans in general yearn for the truth of the world around them. Natural human reason can only discover the philosophical knowledge of truth while leaving many questions beyond natural human understanding left unanswered; therefore, humans must be presented with a higher knowledge of the truth from some type of higher power. Specifically, Christians believe their higher power to be God and should, therefore, always seek for a higher or complete understanding from God. This means that Christians should use philosophical science as the foundation for their own understanding and use theology to progress in their own knowledge of the truths revealed by God. Aquinas states,"man is directed by God, as to an end that surpasses the grasp of his reason... but the end must be known by men who are to direct their thoughts and actions to the end." Although we may never gain a complete understanding of God, we as Christians should always be striving for that end goal of complete understanding of the truth revealed by God.
ReplyDelete-Jay Garrick
The definition of humility is this: to know your limits.... In other words, to know how much you can do (how great your achievements are and can be), and to know how little you can do and are in the scheme of things. I think humans have a great capacity for learning and an even greater curiosity. We should use it, but recognize when we get to a point where we can't learn any more. And I think philosophy and theology go hand-in-hand because, as in philosophy, God is found within us and around us; and, as in theology, God is not of this world.
ReplyDelete-Cathryn Aulbaugh