4th Notes

Faith and Reason

 Overcome the false correspondence that reason is to philosophy and faith is to theology.
This will give us a false view that theology does not use reason and that faith begins only
when reason ends.
 Do not tell me that if you are theologizing you do not use reason, as long as you are a
human being miskan unsa pana nga discipline gagamit jud ug reason.

 The problems with the past is the lack of attention given to the truths of reason due to the
priority given to the truths of faith. The medieval world gave priority to the supernatural
to the effect of becoming less concerned with the natural.
-lack attention of truths of reason can mean lack of attention to modern sciences,
philosophy etc.
-lack of attention sa kinaiyahan kay mas na focus sa grace…

*Medieval and Scholastic period philo and theo were harmonious

*In Modernity, there was a break-up, strange fellows; that is why there is a lack of interest in
philosophy during Modernity.

THAT SHOULD NOT BE! Dapat kanunay mag dialogue ang theologians sa philosophers. There
should be a balance. Dili ra puro bible imo dapat atubangon.
The Bible is not equal to the Word of God or Revealed Truth. There are revealed truths and
Word of God that are not written in the Bible.
(Word of God are channeled through scripture and traditions.)
(Also the Word of God cannot be reduced to only the verbal revelation (Bible + Traditions)
since, there are revelation that are non-verbal, example would be on Nature, the revelation or the
Word of God reveals on the creation of God.)
Revelation:
Verbal: (Scriptures + Traditions)
Non-verbal: (Through God’s creation).
*That is why when you theologize, it does not mean that you can only use scriptures or tradition,
since there are only revealed truths present in the CREATION, in Nature.
Do not reduce revelation through only scripture or only nature or only tradition.

2nd Vatican Council: 1963-1965

Medieval and Scholastic period is about the marriage of Faith and Reason.
Scholasticism: use of greek philosophy especially ARistotlelian philosophy to explain our faith.

THOMAS AQUINAS
His Theological Method
and Epistemology

Epistemology: Theory of knowing; unsaon nato para makatuon ta…

St. Thomas Aquinas –
Pope John Paul II, “the Church has given preference to the method and doctrine of the Angelic
Doctor”. Angelic means have direct contact, direct access with God. His access for truth is very
clear, as clear as an angel.
Pope Leo XIII (modern pope, his way of theologizing is to confront modernity using medieval
philosophy like Thomas Aquinas) – to declare him to be “the chief and master of all the
Scholastic doctors.” (Aeterni Patris, n.17).
Thomistic Theological Method
“… the Magisterium of the Church to choose Thomas as a sure guide in theological and
philosophical disciplines.”

-The church acknowledges Thomas Aquinas as their own.

Sauna gipaluyohan lage kang Aquinas wa kay problema, kung supak gali ka niya problema jud
ka.
-The Thomistic Theological Method has a dialogical character as shown in his usual scholastic
way of exposing the doctrines.

Thomistic Theological Method

Aquinas usually (1) starts with the formulation of a problem to be considered. He will then
provide with (2) series of objections coming from the different philosophical or theological
positions of his time. Afterward, he will set out briefly (3) a contrary position (i.e., sed contra)
either coming from the Bible or certain historical figures. Aquinas will also give (4) his own
position or solution to the problem. Finally, he will elaborate his own position by (5) replying
to all previous objections he had presented at the start.
-Thomas Aquinas will force you to take a position.
=Thomas Aquinas is a dialectic thinker, DIALOGICAL.
*Aquinas teaches us to understand even your enemies. Even those people who are criticizing
your opinion.

Thomistic Theological Method.

Summa Theological, Part One, Question 84, Article 6.
“Man: Knowledge of Bodies”
Quote Summa Theologica: Part One, Question #, and Article #.

Tomorrow: We will have a quiz tomorrow.

When Aquinas tells the philosopher: Aristotle.

If you are not sure, use your opinion. (Do not be afraid).
You must make a judgment if it is ready to make a judgment, that is thomistic method.
Which is why Thomas Aquinas daghan pod sya og kontra.

-In medieval period, Augustine, was the dominant epistemology, Augustinian (Platonists).
-Pag abot ni Thomas Aquinas, gi present niya ang iyang approach using Aristotelian method.
Wala sya nahadlok.
-Di sya mahadlok especially kung kabalo sya kung naa sya sa sakto.

Epistemology:
1. Sense Perception
2.