Introduction
Introduction
Thomas Aquinas was a rare breed of theologian; he dared to venture into philosophical quandaries that many of the traditionalists feared to tread. After taking a vow of chastity and poverty, Aquinas’s greatest desire was to contemplate God and creation, two things that he did with exquisite erudition.
His critics sometimes lambasted him as being nothing more than an “intellectual beggar,” but even amid the harshest attacks on both his faith and his character, Aquinas was always more than up for the challenge and ready to deliver a counter-attack whether in public debate or in the form of a written theological treatise on the subject. Thomas Aquinas never shied away from a fight and was always eager to delve into even the most complex of theological arguments.
Indeed, even as a youngster when he attended his first form of formal education at the Abbey of Monte Cassino, he was noted for frequently asking his superiors, “What is God?” Such a basic yet awe-inspiring question was something that most never even thought to ask or were too afraid to question. Thomas Aquinas had neither of these problems. For him, it was only natural to prove the fundamental tenants of creation. It was not a sign of lack of faith; on the contrary, it was indicative that he longed to get closer to both creation and the creator by coming to a greater understanding of them both. As you read this book, you will find that this desire for greater understanding of the divine was indeed the driving force behind the life of Thomas Aquinas.