St. Thomas Aquinas: Revelation and Reason
Text of St. Thomas: Historical Context
The life of St. Thomas Aquinas elapses in the thirteenth century and represents a synthesis of the spirit of his time. The Middle Ages, which had spent long centuries assimilating the diverse cultures that had broken into the Roman Empire during the barbarian invasions, is coming to an end. There is, in this period, a flowering of the great cities like Paris and Rome, which had suffered a sharp decline in previous centuries. This makes possible the creation
Read MoreEpicurus, Roman Epicureanism, and Plotinus: Key Concepts
Samos Epicurus
Samos Epicurus in Athens. His study and teachings on writing are too fragmentary to be definitively categorized. He addressed different themes, such as natural and ethical principles. His key ideas include:
- Natural philosophy and epistemological natural philosophy. His sensationalism is a continuation of Democritus’ thesis about atoms and their properties, with a twist: the atoms move and collide according to variations. Nature allows for a degree of arbitrariness. Sensations are consequences
Evangelization in Latin America: Methods and Impacts
Evangelical Tradition of the Church
The Church’s initial practice was to entrust evangelization to the Spanish, involving:
- Catechesis: Aimed at ensuring indigenous people understood and accepted the Christian faith. It was largely a process of persuasion.
- Baptism and Acceptance
The Crown, believing this approach was too slow, reversed the process:
- Methodology Developed by Spain
- Destruction of sacred sites
- Request for change
- Forced baptism
- Catechesis
This embrace of faith was often superficial, driven by survival,
Read MoreAugustine’s Synthesis: Wisdom, Enlightenment, and Faith
Augustine’s Synthesis: Doctrinal Wisdom and Enlightenment
Introduction: Background of thought, drawing from Plato and covering various aspects. Augustine speaks of two types of knowledge, connecting them to all areas. He sees the soul as an image of God, emphasizing wisdom and enlightenment. This involves a softened inner search, driven by the thought that one seeks truth, beginning with evidence, following the same order. Self-awareness is the starting point, an indisputable truth in the search.
Read MoreSecond Vatican Council: Key Texts and Impact
The Second Vatican Council (1962-65)
The Second Vatican Council, informally known as Vatican II, addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first ecumenical council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The council formally opened under the pontificate of Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1965.
Several changes resulted from
Read MoreThe Reformation: Key Figures and Events
Martin Luther
- Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt
- Doctorate of Theology in Wittenberg
- German Bible translation at Wartburg
Indulgences
Removes temporal punishment.
Johann Tetzel
Dominican who sold indulgences.
Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura
Diet of Worms – 1521
Charles V: Luther, recant 95 Theses.
Peasants’ Revolt – 1524
Germans rise up against landowners.
Augsburg Confession – 1530
Philip Melanchthon
Peace of Augsburg – 1555
Cuius Regio Eius Religio
South – Catholic, North – Protestant
John Calvin
Geneva – Theocracy City,
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