2. The need for theology
2. THE NEED FOR THEOLOGY
Is theology really the most important thing I need to know?
Since this science (theology) is partly speculative (truth for the sake of truth) and partly practical (truth for the sake of practice), it transcends all others (both) speculative and practical. Now one speculative science is said to be nobler (higher, more valuable) than another either by reason of its greater certitude or by reason of the higher worth of its subject-matter. In both these respects this science surpasses other speculative sciences: in point of greater certitude, because other sciences derive their certitude from the natural light of human reason, which can err, whereas this derives its certitude from the light of the divine knowledge, which cannot be misled; in point of the higher worth of its subject-matter because this science treats chiefly of those things which by their sublimity transcend human reason, while other sciences consider only those things which are within reason’s grasp.
Of the practical sciences, that one is nobler which is not ordained to a further purpose, as political science is nobler than military science, for the good of the army is directed to the good of the State. But the purpose of this science (theology), in so far as it is practical, is eternal bliss, to which as to an ultimate end the purposes of every practical science are directed.
Hence it is clear that from every standpoint it is nobler than other sciences (I,1,5).
Good theology is not the knowledge of theology but the knowledge of God. Bad theology is the theology of the theologian who died and went to Heaven and at the gates of Heaven God offered him the choice between Heaven and a theology lecture on Heaven, and he chose the lecture.
Theology has two ends, which Thomas calls “speculative” (or contemplative) and practical (or active). It seeks truth as an end in itself and also as a means to a life of acts that both lead to and stem from salvation.
“Theology” means “the science (logos) of God (theos)”—“science” in the old, broad, pre-modern sense of “knowledge of the truth ordered by logos (reason and language)”.
There are two factors that make one truth (and therefore one science) higher or more valuable than another: certainty and importance. Theology is #1 in both. For if there is “revealed theology”; if there is a wisdom not just about God but from God; if there is not just man’s thoughts about God but also God’s thoughts about man; then this is the most certain knowledge we have, because God, unlike man, can never deceive or be deceived. And it is also the most important knowledge we have; because if God exists, then knowing God is the most important knowledge there is, because God is the most important reality there is. He is the most important because He is our ultimate End. (That should be obvious!)
Why then is there more controversy in theology than in other sciences, if it is the most certain? It certainly seems less certain than, say, physics. Isn’t it dependent on personal opinion or faith, while other sciences are objective and certain?
St. Thomas answers this objection too, and explains why the most certain seems least certain:
It may well happen that what is in itself the more certain may seem to us the less certain on account of the weakness of our intelligence, “which is dazzled by the clearest objects in nature, as the owl is dazzled by the light of the sun” (Aristotle). Hence the fact that some happen to doubt about articles of faith is not due to the uncertain nature of the truths, but to the weakness of human intelligence. Yet the slenderest knowledge that may be obtained of the highest things is more desirable than the most certain knowledge obtained of lesser things (I,1,5).
We must choose between (1) more perfect (clear, adequate, certain-to-us) knowledge of imperfect things (the things of this world) and (2) less perfect knowledge of more perfect things (the things of God). Which is more important to you: a tiny, imperfect little insight into the heart of the person you love the most, or a mathematically complete and certain formula for a better paper clip?