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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 [[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>

Saint Thomas had a different view of the fall than [[Calvin]] or [[Luther]]. He did not view man as totally depraved, but rather that his will was weakened and his intellect clouded. Nonetheless, his nature was not totally corrupted, for as created by God he remained essentially good. Nevertheless, man cannot attain [[salvation]] on his own, but is in need of [[grace]]. Though human intellect is imperfect, unassisted human reason can still understand many of the truths about God. For instance: the existence of God can be shown from the nature of the created [[universe]]. However, 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 but not totally 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 wrote many theological and philosophical books, as well as composing several beautiful hymns. Hailed as a masterpiece, his works Summa Theoligiae gives humanity a child like revelation of [[God]]. The book was never completed, though it contains more than 2 million words. <ref>[http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=3266 Second Chance for Thomas] Religion-Online.org</ref> After a religious vision / experience, he stopped writing explaining, “All that I have written seems to me like straw compared to what has now been revealed to me.”<ref>[http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/?page_id=103], Philosophy of Religion- Historic Figures</ref> He died three months later at the monastery of Fossanova, one mile from Sonnino, on March 7, 1274

Saint Thomas wrote many theological and philosophical books and composed several beautiful hymns. Hailed as a masterpiece, his works [[Summa Theologica]] gives humanity a child like revelation of [[God]]. The book was never completed, though it contains more than 2 million words. <ref>[http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=3266 Second Chance for Thomas] Religion-Online.org</ref> After a religious vision / experience, he stopped writing explaining, “All that I have written seems to me like straw compared to what has now been revealed to me.”<ref>[http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/?page_id=103], Philosophy of Religion- Historic Figures</ref> He died three months later at the monastery of Fossanova, one mile from Sonnino, on March 7, 1274

His entire Summa is simple to comprehend, divided into three parts and contains 27 questions. '''"It can be proved in five ways that God exists."''' <ref>[http://www.catholicism.org/thomas-aquinas.html], Saint Thomas Aquinas Biography</ref>

The entire ''Summa'' provides simple and direct illuminations into the nature of God:  '''"It can be proved in five ways that God exists."''' <ref>[http://www.catholicism.org/thomas-aquinas.html], Saint Thomas Aquinas Biography</ref> The basic format of the arguments in the ''Summa'' begin with a few brief postulates about the nature of God followed by a series of reasonable objections to those assertions. A flaw in the [[logic]] of the objections is raised and the objections are systematically answered by logical counterarguments, bringing the argument to a conclusion supporting the original postulates.

 

    

    

The first part ''Prima Pars'' (God and what precedes from Him)

The first part ''Prima Pars'' (God and what precedes from Him)