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'''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.  

'''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 [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|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 "[[Flying Spaghetti Monster|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, but rather that his will was weakened and his intellect clouded. Nonetheless, his nature was not totally corrupted, for as created by [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|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 [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]]. For instance: the existence of [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|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 [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]], and that to apply human intelligence to understanding the world is not an affront to [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|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 and composed several beautiful hymns. Hailed as a masterpiece, his works [[Summa Theologica]] gives humanity a child like revelation of [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|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

The entire ''Summa'' provides simple and direct illuminations into the nature of [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]]:  '''"It can be proved in five ways that [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|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 [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|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 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.

[[Summa Theologica]] is divided into three parts and contains 27 questions:

[[Summa Theologica]] is divided into three parts and contains 27 questions:

    

    

The first part ''Prima Pars'' ([[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]] and what precedes from Him)

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

The second part ''Prima Secundae and Secunda Secundae'' (Law and Grace, Charity and Justice)

The second part ''Prima Secundae and Secunda Secundae'' (Law and Grace, Charity and Justice)

The third part ''Tertia Pars'' (Christ who as man is our way to [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]])

The third part ''Tertia Pars'' (Christ who as man is our way to God)

Concerning the nature of [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]], Aquinas found that the best approach, commonly called the "via negativa", is to consider what [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]] is not. This led him to propose five positive statements about the divine qualities:

Concerning the nature of God, Aquinas found that the best approach, commonly called the "via negativa", is to consider what God is not. This led him to propose five positive statements about the divine qualities:

*1. [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]] is simple, without composition of parts, such as body and soul, or matter and form.

*1. God is simple, without composition of parts, such as body and soul, or matter and form.

*2. [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]] is perfect, lacking nothing. That is, [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]] is distinguished from other beings on account of [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]]'s complete actuality.

*2. God is perfect, lacking nothing. That is, God is distinguished from other beings on account of God's complete actuality.

*3. [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]] is infinite. That is, [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]] is not finite in the ways that created beings are physically, intellectually, and emotionally limited. This infinity is to be distinguished from infinity of size and infinity of number.

*3. God is infinite. That is, God is not finite in the ways that created beings are physically, intellectually, and emotionally limited. This infinity is to be distinguished from infinity of size and infinity of number.

*4. [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]] is immutable, incapable of change on the levels of [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]]'s essence and character.

*4. God is immutable, incapable of change on the levels of God's essence and character.

*5. [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]] is one, without diversification within [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]]'s self. The unity of [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]] is such that [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]]'s essence is the same as [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]]'s existence. In Aquinas's words, "in itself the proposition '[[Flying Spaghetti Monster|God]] exists' is necessarily true, for in it subject and predicate are the same."

*5. God is one, without diversification within God's self. The unity of God is such that God's essence is the same as God's existence. In Aquinas's words, "in itself the proposition 'God exists' is necessarily true, for in it subject and predicate are the same."

St. Thomas Aquinas is further known for his famous observation that the [[Devil]] cannot withstand mockery.

St. Thomas Aquinas is further known for his famous observation that the [[Devil]] cannot withstand mockery.