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{{Christianity}}

{{Christianity}}

[[Image:Saint Thomas Aquinas.jpg|left|thumb|St. Thomas Aquinas]]

[[Image:Saint Thomas Aquinas.jpg|left|thumb|St. Thomas Aquinas]]

'''St. Thomas Aquinas''' (1225-1274) was a [[Dominican]] friar who wrote [[Summa Theologica]].  Many consider this to be the most perfect and complete summary of [[Christian]] [[theology]], and he established an entire type of Christian [[philosophy]] known as "Thomism", which is followed to this day.  Aquinas was somewhat controversial during his life, but was quickly revered by the [[Catholic Church]] after his death. Many of the controversies surrounding Aquinas stem from his synthesis of [[Aristotle]]an philosophy with Christian philosophy, causing him to break with many of the traditionally held philosophical and theological positions espoused by the dominant Augustinian synthesis of Neoplatonic philosophy and Christianity.  

'''St. Thomas Aquinas''' (1225-1274)"The Angelic Doctor" was a [[Dominican]] friar who wrote [[Summa Theologica]].  Many consider this to be the most perfect and complete summary of [[Christian]] [[theology]], and he established an entire type of Christian [[philosophy]] known as "Thomism", which is followed to this day.  Aquinas was somewhat controversial during his life, but was quickly revered by the [[Catholic Church]] after his death. Many of the controversies surrounding Aquinas stem from his synthesis of [[Aristotle]]an philosophy with Christian philosophy, causing him to break with many of the traditionally held philosophical and theological positions espoused by the dominant Augustinian synthesis of Neoplatonic philosophy and Christianity.  

He developed five proofs for the existence of [[God]] using logic.  The first three were "cosmological" proofs rather than the "ontological" approach of [[St. Anselm]].  A cosmological proof deals with the natural order of the universe.  Aquinas' most famous cosmological argument was that whatever is in motion (for example, us) must have been put in motion by something else (our parents).  They, in turn, must have been put in motion by something else (their parents).  But this sequence cannot go on to infinity.  There must have been a first mover.  This we call "God".   

He developed five proofs for the existence of [[God]] using logic.  The first three were "cosmological" proofs rather than the "ontological" approach of [[St. Anselm]].  A cosmological proof deals with the natural order of the universe.  Aquinas' most famous cosmological argument was that whatever is in motion (for example, us) must have been put in motion by something else (our parents).  They, in turn, must have been put in motion by something else (their parents).  But this sequence cannot go on to infinity.  There must have been a first mover.  This we call "God".