Top 30 Apologetics Books (#6): Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles
Quotable
Materialism is a philosophy; science may be best thought of as a methodology for investigating the natural world. Materialism is an important part of much of philosophical naturalism. Science, a methodology, is therefore neither identical with, nor dependent upon, materialism or philosophical naturalism. This brings out a distinction. One can practice science without believing in materialism.
There is one other point to be made here: calling all rational investigation the “scientific method” in effect discriminates against theism. What most people think of as science are the natural sciences: chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy, and so on. Methods used to investigate these are not the same ones that one can use to investigate God. Thus, science, as most people understand it, cannot be used to understand the existence and nature of God. Even if there is evidence from the sciences for design in the universe, one would still have to use philosophical reasoning to move from the evidence to God. By identifying rational inquiry with science alone, one begs the question against theism, for it assumes that reason (held to be basically the same thing as the methods of the natural sciences) is irrelevant to study God.
In response, by holding that reasoning includes, but is not limited to, the natural sciences, one can see that one can investigate God rationally by philosophy.
Often, as noted, materialists present an assumption of their “owning science.” Perhaps the basic thought behind this is that the natural sciences study only physical things. Naturalism combined with materialism is the philosophy that all that exists are physical things. Therefore, it is thought, science and naturalism/materialism are the same thing. This reasoning is fallacious, and obviously so. To say that the natural sciences study only natural things does not imply that only natural, physical things exist anymore than the fact that organic chemists study chemicals with carbon in them means that only chemicals with carbon exist.
Atheistic naturalists and materialists have gotten a lot of mileage over the years by conflating their philosophy with science, but it is an illegitimate thing to do.
— Stephen E. Parrish, Atheism? A Critical Analysis (Wipf & Stock, 2019), 32, 33.
Note: Below, Dr. Rob Bowman continues his series on the 30 most important apologetics books in church history. See his earlier posts in previous weeks of Useful Things.
#6: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles (1263)
In the thirteenth century, Christian Europe was shaken by the rediscovery and distribution of the philosophical works of Aristotle and the strong impetus given to the Aristotelian worldview by the very capable Spanish-Arab philosopher Averroes. The growing influence of Averroist thought in European universities led to a crisis for Christian thought. Some scholars at the universities were embracing an uncritical Aristotelianism, while others, especially high-ranking church officials, uncritically condemned anything Aristotelian.
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) offered a response to this challenge that would change the course of Christian philosophy and apologetics. In his work Summa Contra Gentiles, he proposed a mediating approach that made full use of Aristotelian logic and at least some elements of Aristotelian philosophy for Christian thought while avoiding uncritically accepting everything Aristotle said. Against those who followed Aristotle slavishly, Aquinas was careful to note when Aristotle was not in harmony with the Christian faith. Against the Muslim philosophers who used Aristotle to buttress the religion of Islam, notably Averroes and his followers, Aquinas argued that their reasoning was defective and that their philosophy actually was in conflict with Aristotle properly interpreted. The Summa Contra Gentiles is Thomas’s principal work of apologetics, while his Summa Theologiae is his principal work of theology.
The Summa Contra Gentiles consists of four books. The first three examine what can be known by reason but is more securely known by revelation: that there is a God, that he created the world, and that he rules the world providentially. The fourth book treats what can be known only by revelation, such as the Trinity, the Incarnation, and salvation.
Aquinas is perhaps best known for his “five ways,” five arguments for the existence of God. Yet Aquinas himself did not put great emphasis on the five ways, which take up only a few pages in both Summas. God’s existence may be inferred from the nature of the world as changing, causative, contingent, graduated, and ordered (the five ways). These proofs (according to Aquinas himself) show that a God exists, but do not prove God per se; for Thomas, faith in God ought to be based on his revelation in Scripture, not on the proofs. The proofs were apparently offered not as a refutation of atheism (which was not a serious option in Aquinas’s day), but to show the coherence of Christianity with Aristotelian logic.
To describe Thomas Aquinas as a towering intellect in the history of Christian thought is something of an understatement. His influence in the development of Christian apologetics can hardly be overstated.
—Rob Bowman Jr. is an evangelical Christian apologist, biblical scholar, author, editor, and lecturer. He is the author of over sixty articles and author or co-author of thirteen books, including Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ, co-authored with J. Ed Komoszewski. He leads the Apologetics Book Club on Facebook.
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(*The views and opinions expressed in the articles, videos, podcasts, and books linked to do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of The Worldview Bulletin.)
eBook Deals
Note: These deals were valid at the time this message was written, but prices may change without notice. The same deals are often available on Amazon sites in other countries.
As of tonight (7/28) the latest two books in the excellent Cambridge Elements in the Philosophy of Religion series are still available as free downloads, but won’t be much longer. The two volumes are God and Human Freedom and God and Abstract Objects. Check the site linked to above on a regular basis as new volumes are freely available for a limited time.
Eerdmans Publishing runs an ebook sale every month, and this month you can find deals on 30 titles. See the complete list here.
The Jesus Inquest: The Case For and Against the Resurrection of the Christ by Charles Foster - $2.49
The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief - $2.51
On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision by William Lane Craig - $0.99
Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof - $1.99
Loving God with Your Mind: Essays in Honor of J. P. Moreland, ed. by Paul Gould and Richard Brian Davis - $2.99
Miracles by C. S. Lewis - $2.99
Deliver Us From Evil by Ravi Zacharias - $2.99
WHAT IS MAN?: Adam, Alien or Ape? by Edgar Andrews - $3.99
Intellectuals Don't Need God and Other Modern Myths: Building Bridges to Faith Through Apologetics by Alister McGrath - $2.99
Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell - $3.99
The Creator Revealed: A Physicist Examines the Big Bang and the Bible by Michael G. Strauss - $3.03
Star Struck: Seeing the Creator in the Wonders of Our Cosmos by David Bradstreet and Steve Rabey - $2.99
Dignity and Destiny: Humanity in the Image of God by John Kilner - $2.51
The Missing Gospels: Unearthing the Truth Behind Alternative Christianities by Darrell Bock - $0.99
The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White - $1.89 (A standard reference book for writers, packed with good advice.)
Videos
Can We "Prove" that God Exists? | Graham Oppy vs Ed Feser
Information Enigma: Where does information come from?
Ravi Zacharias | The Ben Shapiro Show Sunday Special Ep. 60
Questions on God's Infinity and the Moral Argument | Reasonable Faith Video Podcast
Does Science Point to Atheism? | Dr. Satyan Devadoss & Dr. Conor Mayo-Wilson
What Advice Would You Give To Apologists? (J. Warner Wallace at One Minute Apologist)
The Relation between the Reformation and Science - Dr. Kirsten Birkett and Dr. Michael Reeves
Audio
A Youtube Response to the Resurrection, Part One (Reasonable Faith)
Youtube Response to Resurrection, Part Two (Reasonable Faith)
The Logic of God with Ravi Zacharias (Frank Turek interviews Ravi Zacharias)
The Artistic Pro-Life Theme in Netflix’s I Am Mother (CRI podcast)
The Struggle for Western Civilization [First Things podcast: Samuel Gregg discusses his book Reason, Faith, and the Struggle for Western Civilization.]
A Change of Affection: A Gay Man's Incredible Story of Redemption (Apologetics.com)
Can We Trust the Gospels?: An Interview with Dr. Peter J. Williams (Apologetics Canada)
Helpful Resources
- The Evangelical Philosophical Society has a very nice collection of papers free to download in three different categories:
Philosophy of Theological Anthropology Project
Philosophical Discussions on Marriage and Family Project
Christian Philosophers in the Secular Academy
- You can now also access the full archive of Philosophia Christi, the journal of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, through The Philosophy Documentation Center. See here for details.
- Check out biblicaltraining.org where you can listen to course lectures presented by notable evangelical scholars, free of charge. See the full list of courses here. These are great for listening to while commuting, traveling, exercising, or doing house work. Among the 130 courses are 10 on worldview issues.
- Take a look at the Library Extension, available for Firefox and Chrome. As you browse books and e-books on web pages, the Library Extension can check your library's online catalog and display the availability of that item on the same page.
Book Highlight
*Unless otherwise noted, descriptions are those provided by the publisher, sometimes edited for brevity.
Does atheism have a monopoly on reason and science? Many think so—or simply assume so. Atheism? challenges the many hidden assumptions that have led to the popular belief that atheism is the “default” position for explaining reality. Delving into the most basic and fundamental questions of existence, this thought-provoking book explains that atheism does not and cannot provide a secure foundation for thought and life. Specifically, it demonstrates that atheistic theories cannot explain the existence of an ordered universe, the conundrums of consciousness and knowledge, or why there is morality or beauty. Rather than being the result of reason, atheism is shown to be, in effect, a revolt against reason. If you enjoy pondering the most basic issues that confront us in our world today, then Atheism? is the book for you.
—Stephen Parrish is a professor of philosophy at Concordia University Ann Arbor. He is the author of God and Necessity and The Knower and the Known.
Praise for Atheism? A Critical Analysis
“An incredible and well-informed read! Painstakingly researched, cognizant of the wide variety of relevant issues across the scope of this broad topic, and moving easily in and out of the philosophical depths involved here, Steve Parrish has compiled a multifaceted critique that must be reckoned with by naturalists. Highly recommended, indeed!”
—Gary R. Habermas, Distinguished Research Professor & Chair, Deparment of Philosophy, Liberty University
“In this accessible and even-handed work, Stephen Parrish closely compares the answers of atheism and theism to several fundamental questions. Why does the universe exist? Why does it contain consciousness, rational persons, moral values, and evil? Parrish shows that overall, theism, not atheism, provides the most rationally compelling account of the world we live in. Theists and atheists alike should engage this insightful and well-researched book.”
—Angus Menuge, Professor and Chair of Philosophy, Concordia University Wisconsin
Available at Amazon, Wipf & Stock, and other online booksellers.
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Paul Copan on why the concept of design can’t be eliminated from science.
Paul Gould’s explanation of the meaning of “Art,” and why many definitions fall short.
Our interview with Sean McDowell on his and J. Warner Wallace’s new book So The Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World. Sean has great advice for anyone working with young people today.
Dr. Edgar Andrews on why it’s possible to talk about a “biblical worldview,” despite the Bible’s diversity.
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Free Download: Cultural Apologetics
Check out this free excerpt from Paul Gould’s new book Cultural Apologetics: Renewing the Christian Voice, Conscience, and Imagination in a Disenchanted World.
Cultural Apologetics sets forth a fresh model for cultural engagement, rooted in the biblical account of Paul's speech on Mars Hill, which details practical steps for reestablishing the Christian voice, conscience, and imagination.
With creative insights, Cultural Apologetics prepares readers to share a vision of the Christian faith that is both plausible and desirable, offering clarity for those who have become disoriented in the haze of modern Western culture.
Free Download: The Dictionary of Christianity and Science
If you haven’t already, download a free, 20-page excerpt of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science, edited by Paul Copan and Christopher Reese, along with Tremper Longman III and Michael Strauss.
The Dictionary features over 140 evangelical contributors and 450 entries on key concepts, theories, terms, movements, individuals, and debates in relation to Christianity and science.
Free Download: So The Next Generation Will Know
We interviewed Sean McDowell about his and J. Warner Wallace’s new book, So The Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World, in the July issue.
McDowell and Wallace write to parents, youth workers, teachers, and others who want to help young people (especially elementary through high school students) develop their own confident faith—especially in light of the alarming statistics about how many young people walk away from Christianity in their high school and college years.
Enjoy this free excerpt from the book.
