RELIGION AND SCIENCE IN THE

MIDDLE AGES

Still more Aristotle

Dante Alighieri (1265 – 1321)

Wrote The Divine Comedy, a distillation of history, theology, and politics up to the 14th century

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274)

Proofs of the existence of God

The five proofs

The argument of the unmoved mover The argument of the first cause The argument from contingency The argument from degree The teleological argument

Aquinas’ Concept of God

Continuing ruler of nature God is the primary cause of all that

happens but there are secondary causes through He works.

God works through natural causes, governs the world through angels, and acts directly through miracles.

The role of humanity

Man is the center of the cosmic drama; nature is subordinate.

History = Creation, Covenant, Christ, Church, and Consummation

All nature serves humanity and humanity serves God.