Thomas Aquinas: Faith, Reason, and Following Christ

by Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt

Thomas Aquinas is widely recognized as one of history's most significant Christian theologians and one of the most powerful philosophical minds of the western tradition. But what has often not been sufficiently attended to is the fact that he carried out his theological and philosophical labours as a part of his vocation as a Dominican friar, dedicated to a life of preaching and the care of souls. Fererick Christian Bauerschmidt places Aquinas's thought within the context of that vocation, and argues that his views on issues of God, creation, Christology, soteriology, and the Christian life are both shaped by and in service to the distinctive goals of the Dominicans. What Aquinas says concerning both matters of faith and matters of reason, as well as his understanding of the relationship between the two, are illuminated by the particular Dominican call to serve God through handing on to others through preaching and teaching the fruits of one's own theological reflection.

Genres: Theology, Philosophy

356 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Joel Zartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good history, good analysis, good explanations of philosophy and theology, good structuring, good everything. It is hard to think how this book could be improved. It has some very dense sections that require careful, intent reading; but then, it is Aquinas we are talking about. If I were to own only one book on Aquinas, this would be it.

[Michael Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super helpful introduction to the Angelic Doctor. And a good guide is basically required to trek through Thomas.

[Ben Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful as an explication of one the dominant ways of taking Thomas today!