Philosophy Question
Aljaser 1 Trusting Faith: Upholding Aquinas’ View on God’s Existence As faith matures, a natural inquisitiveness about God’s essence often emerges. This probing spirit resembles Mary’s humble inquiry regarding the immaculate conception. Throughout history, philosophers have debated the true nature of faith. Saint Anselm advocates for understanding God to have faith, asserting that comprehension is integral to loving and serving the divine. Conversely, Saint Aquinas maintains that faith exists independently of reason, suggesting that understanding is not a prerequisite for belief. This discourse aligns with Aquinas’ perspective, presenting it as the more convincing stance when considering the relationship between faith and reason. Saint Anselm emphasizes the crucial role of understanding God’s nature as a foundational aspect of loving and serving Him more effectively. Anselm advocates that true faith in God naturally leads to a pursuit of understanding His nature (Ch. 1). This concept is exemplified by the practice of Benedictine monks, who are committed to serving God and expected to comprehend the intellectual basis of their monastic life (Anselm Ch. 1). According to Anselm, learning the reasons behind one’s dedication to God is essential in the spiritual journey (Ch. 1). This understanding is not just for contemplation. Still, it is integral to deeper and more meaningful service to God (Anselm Ch. 1). Saint Anselm articulates that faith begins with an inherent belief in God’s existence and then seeks to deepen through understanding. This process is crucial for one to love and serve God more profoundly. Knowledge about God’s nature and will enables a person to follow His commands more faithfully. Nevertheless, Anselm’s perspective is questioned by the definition of faith as a complete trust in what cannot be perceived through the senses. The endeavor to comprehend God after believing is seen as an attempt to justify one’s faith. Furthermore, serving God is a personal journey, dependent on an Aljaser 2 individual’s faith and abilities. Hence, Anselm’s interpretation of faith as seeking understanding is met with skepticism about its feasibility. Contrasting with Saint Anselm’s philosophy, Saint Thomas Aquinas suggested that faith is built upon innate knowledge and is discerned through reason (Aquinas, I, Q2, Art.1). He believed that while reason is a universal human trait, faith springs from an individual’s devotion to God, thus placing faith at the heart of understanding the divine, rather than as a mere prompt for questioning (Aquinas, I, Q2, Art.1). Aquinas emphasized that faith does not rely on sensory proof since the divine transcends human perception. Faith, according to Aquinas, is anchored in the trust in God’s love and mercy, illustrating that faith and reason are complementary in the pursuit of divine knowledge (Aquinas, I, Q2, Art.2). When one holds the belief in God’s grace, the quest for tangible proof becomes unnecessary for serving Him. This is in part because God’s essence and presence are beyond the realm of sensory detection. Saint Thomas Aquinas’ viewpoint is considered more convincing than Saint Anselm’s, as the endeavor to grasp God’s nature fully is deemed an exercise in futility. Scriptural narratives illustrate that God’s people endure hardships and are rescued from adversity. Attempts to rationalize such divine actions could lead to confusion. Therefore, Aquinas’ assertion stands stronger according to the described understanding of faith. Faith in God is an adequate foundation for His service without needing an in-depth exploration into the divine essence. In summary, the core argument of this paper supports the view of Saint Thomas Aquinas that faith is inherently independent of reason, contrasting with Saint Anselm’s stance that faith in God naturally leads to inquiries into His nature. Although both positions have merit, Anselm’s argument appears less tenable when faith is considered a belief beyond the grasp of the senses. Pursuing understanding as a postscript to faith may imply a need for justification, potentially Aljaser 3 indicating a lack of conviction. Aquinas’s assertion that faith is the bedrock from which understanding may arise, without the necessity for empirical evidence, emerges as the more coherent argument. Aljaser 4 Works Cited Anselm, Saint, Archbishop of Canterbury. “Proslogium.” E-book ed., Fig, 2012. Google Books, https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Proslogium?id=-BXoR80r71IC. Aquinas, Thomas. “Summa Theologica.” Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province, Benziger Bros. edition, 1947.
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