Catholics: Why is Thomas Aquinas so highly regarded?

I'm not a Catholic; but then again, neither was Thomas Aquinas. The designation "Catholic" only makes sense post-Reformation. Aquinas lived pre-Reformation, before the split.

Thomas Aquinas is credited for re-invigorating a Christian Aristotelian philosophy in the face of Islamic dominance of Aristotelian thought. Until that point, Platonic philosophy dominated Catholic thought. The problem with Platonism was that it held to a dualistic view, a strict separation between the world of ideas and the material world, between spirit and matter. This presented many problems with Christian theology. Aristotle was able to speak about spirit and matter in a way that helped make sense of Christian dogmatics, especially the Incarnation - the fusion of spirit and flesh. In other words, Aquinas thought that Aristotelian philosophy could help Christian theology make better sense to a world that was getting tired of the old dualism between spirit and matter.

I don't pretend to be an authority on Aquinas, but from what I understand his main acchievement was synthesising the theology of the church with the classical philosophy of Aristotle. Basically, he demonstrated better than any of the other philosophers of his time how faith and reason could co-exist, rather than being in opposition to each other.

Part of his importance to the church also lies in the way that his ideas have become woven into its doctrine. This is especially true of the doctrine of transubstantiation, which explains how the eucharistic bread and wine can become the body and blood of Christ without changing their outward characteristics.

Do you suspect your self to "constantly be good"? there are situations in case you have been incorrect approximately particular issues. Is that no longer ultimate? Now, in basic terms considering the fact which you may have been incorrect approximately something in one section, does that mena each and every thing you may furnish in different factors is of little need? it is the known you're conserving Saint Thomas Aquinas to: the thought the countless situations you have been good approximately something skill no longer something because of the few situations you're incorrect. it is disingenuous. no person is claiming Saint Thomas Aquinas or his writings are infallible. His perception into the character of unborn people leaves plenty to be needed via on the instant's standards. yet it is by using the fact human biology of his time left plenty to be needed, lower back via on the instant's standards. He grew to become into an astounding theologian whose perception and writings formed fairly some Christian concept.

Among other things, St Thomas Aquinas proves beyond doubt the existence of God by the use of reason alone.

And Gerry,

No! You are thinking of Thomas, the Apostle. 13 centuries between the two.

Guaranteed to put you to sleep in 20 minutes.

Yeah, it is a rather strange person to hold in such high regard given that his arguments have long been debunked.

We disproved him in our third lesson in AI at university :D

His logic is wrong, but he used it to make stupid people in the past think he had proved that god is real.

Here you go, read all about it on Wikipedia.

St. Thomas was the one who doubted who Jesus really was until Jesus told St. Thomas to put his finger in the hole that the soldier stabbed Jesus with a spear.