ASSIGNMENT : Introduction To Christianity

Explain Some Contributions of Thomas Aquinas in Areas of Law, Science, Politics, And War

Thomas Aquinas was a prolific philosopher, theologian, and jurist who wrote different types of work in law, science, politics, and war. Aquinas was well capable of distinguishing between philosophy and theology. When it comes to law, he made great contributions in general law, human law, and divine law.  For the general law, he stated that the nature of the good directs the law, especially the universal good. He believed that the natural, human and divine laws are dependent on eternal law. He states that divine law is derived from eternal law and it spans historically since the Old Testament days. An example of divine laws is those found in the book of revelation, although other laws can be seen in the Old Testament. 

Thomas argued the existence of God and articulated that people fail to adhere to the rules because there is science which creates solutions to people’s needs. He described science as an enterprise for learning the rules of nature such as metric properties, time, and energy. He concludes that the rules exist because there is something beyond Nature and that is the Rule giver, meaning God.

Thomas invented the theory of politics which became widely influential. He describes the man as a social being who interacts with other people in a community and shares reasons, as one of the things shared among people in a community. He developed the libertarian theory which he describes as a system where the government cannot alter.

Finally, Thomas Aquinas advocated for just war.  He agreed with the wisdom of his time that Christians should be at the forefront to preserve peace through defense mechanisms and that they should be pacifists philosophically. He recommends that war should occur for good and not for the search of power and that only instituted authority should wage war, peace must be the central motive for any violence.

Explain how the pagan Celsus blamed Christians for the fall of Rome and how Saint Augustine responded with his philosophy of history in his work the city of God.

Rome considered themselves to be religious and worshiped and gave sacrifices to their gods. Christians, on the other hand, did not follow the ways of the Romans such as sacrificing to their God because they believed that Jesus died as a sacrifice for them, so they did not have to sacrifice. Such difference often caused conflicts between the Christians and the Romans. Some Romans used to convert into Christianity and hence stopped sacrificing to the gods of Romans or worshipping in their temples. Romans leaders blamed Christians for all the disasters including the fall of Rome. The leaders claimed the Christians angered the gods and hence the destruction. Pagan in this context represents the Romans.

When The Roman Empire collapsed, they complained to Marcellinus who then wrote to Augustine about it. Augustine then began developing a new dossier which he called ‘The City of God’. He responded to the fall of Roman Empire by stating that they kept their gods for so long yet they could not defend the empire from downfall. He defended the Glorious city of God and urged the people who he termed as proud to be humble. He also added that the fables established by pagans and their theoretical performances corrupted the good virtues of the early Roman Empire.