Read on page 36 Reply beginning with the words "The gifts of grace are added......" and also read on page 38 Reply to 5. Reply to the following questions in the Comments section of this posting.
- What do you think Aquinas means by "The gifts of grace are added to nature in such a way that they do not destroy it, but rather perfect it. So too the light of faith, which is imparted to us as a gift, does not do away with the light of natural reason given to us by God."
- What do you think Aquinas means by "So those who use the works of philosophers is sacred doctrine, by bringing them into the service of faith, do not mix water with wine, but rather change water into wine." What is symbolized by the wine and the water?
1. From my thoughts I can see this as Aquinas stating that the mystery of faith is meant to enhance our connection with God. In the end the reasoning was given to us so we can try and reach out for spot next to the Lord once again.
ReplyDelete2.Water my define the bases of the idea and questioning of our lives being the pure beginning of theology. Later through the act of thinking in a religious aspect we gain the wisdom meant for us in the end.
Reason is, like faith, a gift that leads us to our end- God. These quotes make it clear that Faith and Reason are harmonious in the human quest for Truth.
DeleteBy the first quote, Aquinas means that they are certain things in life that are gifts of grace which is reason and knowledge. Also, the light of faith, is already in us which does not make our reason go away, but only can strengthen our reason and help guide it.
ReplyDeleteBy the second quote, Aquinas means that people who use works of philosophers are using sacred doctrine or religious texts. Using these texts as the source of our faith is not mixing our current faith with new ideas for faith, but somehow changing your old faith and reason into a new faith. Wine would be our current faith and reason and water would be the new faith from the sacred doctrines.
The likeness of what we know by natural reason to what we know by faith is a key disagreement between Augustine and Aquinas. For Augustine, faith fully restored us via his theory of illumination- that knowledge was far different (no likeness) to that given to us by reason.
DeleteI believe Aquinas means in that quote is that the gifts of grace that we are given by the grace of God are added to our nature to not hurt us in anyway but actually help us and strengthen our reasoning in the light of faith.
ReplyDeleteIn the second quote Aquinas is branching of his first reasoning in his first quote to the second quote. That with this the philosophers are using sacred doctrines and with using these sacred doctrines as our source of faith is not mixing our current faith with new ideas of faith but rather changing our own old unreasoned faith into a new and reasoned faith.
Not hurt us, true....but even more to the point, it adds to what we already can accomplish on our own. For Aquinas, unlike Augustine, despite original sin, humans are able to develop certain truths independent of faith and God.
DeleteAquinas discusses that the mystery of faith and reason is a cause which sheds light on the ultimate truth which is god. Knowledge and reason are gift granted by the grace of God in order to tighten our connection with him.
DeleteThe second is explaining that valuing wisdom is a sacred mindset to have.Aquinas believes that faith and wisdom are different . They can often be mistaken and that leads to people becoming misguided about the truth. Wine represents the faith that many people have in religion.Water represents the knowledge and wisdom that one may have about life.
1st Quote: I think that he is trying to say the Grace is given to us by God, so that we may try to connect with him, and ultimately be with God. Also this idea that natural reason + natural grace = closer to God
ReplyDelete2nd Quote: Through sacred doctrine, we may find faith. Water can represent scripture, while wine can represent faith. Do not mix the two together because our own beliefs may become watered down, but rather use scripture to find our own, real faith.
Aquinas's first quote clearly explains the importance of God's gifts to us. Aquinas states that faith and reason are only means to reach our perfect end, God. These gifts are more or less enhancers to what we can already do. Aquinas says that we can know of God through reason alone. But combining it with faith, we are able to be that much closer to understanding God fully; our ultimate goal as humans.
ReplyDeleteAquinas's second quote deals with combining the two, faith and reason. Those who use the works of philosophy are not wrong as they are sacred doctrine; stated by Aquinas himself. However, he says we should not confuse the two as focusing on one single gift leads to delayed reunion with God. But, if we can incorporate both into what we believe we get closer to God.
1. In this statement, Aquinas is saying that mystery is not here to take out of the knowledge of nature, but mystery is around to perfect nature. The things revealed to human beings by divine revelation and faith do not negate science. In fact, nature works with faith in order to produce understanding to human beings.
ReplyDelete2. When philosophy and faith come together into a solid understanding, they do not mix with each other allowing the message to be diluted. Instead, there is a transcendence of understanding into a new level of understanding different from faith and also different from philosophy.
I believe tat in Aquinas' first quote he is saying that God has given us the gift of grace. God gives us this gift so that we may try to be like him and be with him. The gift of grace that God gives us adds to our human nature that we already have and adds to it so that we may be more like Him.
ReplyDeleteIn the second quote, I believe that Aquinas is stating that theology is not meant to show physical proofs. However, by using sacred doctrine, philosophers can use that as a basis for what they might want to philosophise about. By using parts of theology, they can have physical proofs through philosophy that theology cannot prove.
Aquinas' first quote alludes to the idea that grace is a means to work our way towards God. Grace is a means to enjoy the mystery of the world around us and in turn embrace God.
ReplyDeleteIn the second quote, Aquinas talks about the merging of philosophy and faith. Aquinas is a proponent for this. Aquinas does not think that asking questions and applying thought to faith is a bad thing. Aquinas argues the opposite. Aquinas believed that merging the two fields is a means to truly know God better and to mutually strengthen both philosophy and theology.
1. In the first quote, Aquinas states that the gifts of grace (free unmerited favor of God) and nature go hand in hand because both were made by God. In the same way faith and natural reason (philosophy) also can coexist because they are subjects of God's creation. Although philosophy cannot make faith fully understandable it does help to defend faith in certain situations. (Demonstrate preambles of faith, analogies, refute assertions contrary to faith)
ReplyDelete2. By using philosophy to justify faith, the person doing so has made the two fully coexistent. Bringing the two together strengthens faith by producing a solid foundation to be able to argue upon and back up with. Philosophy is essential in defending faith.
1. It seems that Aquinas is saying everything in nature is there for a reason, and nothing can destroy that nature because if it did that it wouldn't be there in the first place, so everything makes nature a little less imperfect. He then relates this to us and God, showing if he did not think we would do anything but perfect his world, then we wouldn't be here.
ReplyDelete2. In this quote, Aquinas is comparing faith and ourselves through water and wine. The water is us as humans and the wine represents the higher being, the kingdom of God. He says we must change that water to wine, thus strengthening our faith and worship and growing closer and closer to God rather than falling behind and just being water.
1. Aquinas means that it is perfect because God made it. The gift of grace helps us become closer to God and as we know God is perfect. So when grace is added to nature it helps make it more perfect.
ReplyDelete2. The second quote means the philosophy and religion have to join together to help find an answer. The water represents us and the wine represents God. When he says turn the water into wine he means to be more like God.
1. God gave the world gifts of grace to save it, by saving it he means modifying humanity so that they can all live in harmony with the altered and advanced world. It is to perfect nature by the imperfections that were brought upon by man. Grace is what brings morals and acknowledgment of a greater being and the good salvation that is offered to us.
ReplyDelete2. What Aquinas probably means by the quote is that faith is key in being saved by God. We can be thought of as the water in the world, and God being a greater being is the wine. The objective is to become wine instead of mixing water and wine. This does not mean to actually become God, but fully devote oneself to their faith, that is how they can be purified as humans.
1) The first quote is saying the gifts of God's grace enhances the condition of nature making it perfect. In this way "the light of faith " enhances our use of natural reason. " what we know by natural reason has some likeness to what is taught to us by faith." So the gifts of grace and the light of faith gives us the ability to use God's creations to grow a better connection with him.
ReplyDelete2) I think water in this case represents human beings and wine represents God's gifts. If God's gifts perfects us the comparison is turning water into wine. Water is a common drink, wine is an upgrade from water.
1. In the first quote what Thomas is saying is that God in giving gifts to the world was saving it , it helps us become closer to God so that we may feel more perfect and so that we in a way can kinda become more like him.
ReplyDelete2.Thomas is saying that rather they mix philosophy and faith they are changing philosophy to be more like faith.
The first quote by Aquinas talks about how the gift of grace, as in reason and knowledge. Also, the light of faith, is in all of us from the moment of birth, which strengthens our reasoning ability.
ReplyDeleteThe second quote by Aquinas talks about the use of Philosophers works as a Devine document. The use of these text helps us form a new faith and reason out of what the old. The wine is our old faith while the water is the new.