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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".   

Saint Thomas had a different view of the fall than [[Calvin]] or [[Luther]]. He did not view man as totally depraved. His will was weakened and his intellect clouded, nonetheless his nature is not totally corrupted, for as created by God it is still basically good. Nevertheless man cannot attain to [[salvation]] on his own but is in need of [[grace]].  Though the intellect is clouded, unassisted human reason can still attain to many of the truths about God. For instance the existence of God can be shown from the nature of the created [[universe]]. Nonetheless certain things are only knowable through [[Divine Revelation]] such as the doctrine of the [[Blessed Trinity]]. Because of his view of the power of the human mind, though harmed by the fall, yet not totaly destroyed, the works of the classical, secular philosophers could be brought into the service of Christian theology.  [[Charles Murray]] wrote, "Aquinas made the case, eventually adopted by the Church, that human intelligence is a gift from God, and that to apply human intelligence to understanding the world is not an affront to God but is pleasing to him." <ref>http://www.amconmag.com/11_17_03/review.html</ref>

Saint Thomas had a different view of the fall than [[Calvin]] or [[Luther]]. He did not view man as totally depraved. His will was weakened and his intellect clouded, nonetheless his nature is not totally corrupted, for as created by God it is still basically good. Nevertheless man cannot attain to [[salvation]] on his own but is in need of [[grace]].  Though the intellect is clouded, unassisted human reason can still attain to many of the truths about God. For instance the existence of God can be shown from the nature of the created [[universe]]. Nonetheless certain things are only knowable through [[Divine Revelation]] such as the [[Catholic doctrine|doctrine]] of the [[Blessed Trinity]]. Because of his view of the power of the human mind, though harmed by the fall, yet not totaly destroyed, the works of the classical, secular philosophers could be brought into the service of Christian theology.  [[Charles Murray]] wrote, "Aquinas made the case, eventually adopted by the Church, that human intelligence is a gift from God, and that to apply human intelligence to understanding the world is not an affront to God but is pleasing to him." <ref>http://www.amconmag.com/11_17_03/review.html</ref>