THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

BY: ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

St. Thomas Aquinas

Born circa 1225 in Roccasecca, Italy

Died at the monastery of Fossanova on March 7, 1274
Thomistic School of Theology
Father = Landulph; Mother = Theodora
Descendants of Emperor Frederick I and Henry VI
Was predicted by a holy hermit to enter the Order of Friars Preachers
Posed the question What is God?
Returned to Naples when he was 13 years old
Arguments are mostly influenced by Aristotle
Contemporary monastic orders
Taught in University of Paris

We call this young man a dumb ox, but his

bellowing in doctrine will one day resound
throughout the world! St. Albert the Great

St. Thomas Aquinas

Travelling, writing, teaching, public speaking and preaching
Harmonizing faith and reason to discover the truth
Motive of reconciling the ancient logic of Aristotle and
condemnations of Roman Catholic Church
Rejected Averroess theory of double truth which were said to be in
direct opposition
Both kind of knowledge comes from God
Works in collaboration (both faith and reason)
Used Aristotelian arguments in proving Gods existence and the truth
of Christian beliefs

MAJOR WORKS
60 known works
Summa Contra Gentiles
Summa Theologica
Scriptum Super Libros Sententiarium (Commentary on the Sentences)
De ente et essentia (On Being and Essence)
Impugnantes Dei Cultum et religionem

WHAT IS GOD?
He is the most perfect being St. Thomas
Aquinas

FIVE WAYS OF PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF

GOD
1. Argument from the Motion
An immovable motor
Observing movements in the world as a proof of God.
Whatever is in motion is put into motion by another object that
is in motion.
This other object, in turn, was put into motion by still another
object preceding it, and so forth.
First mover = God

FIVE WAYS OF PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF

GOD
2. Argument from the Efficient Cause
Observing the cause and effect
Ultimate cause is dependent on previous cause
The absence of causes does not square on observations
God is the maker of human beings
Identifies God as the cause of everything
Everything in the world has its maker
First maker = God

FIVE WAYS OF PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF

GOD
3. Argument from the Possibility and Necessities
Impermanent nature of beings
Necessitates from God
Possibility of to be and not to be
Absurdity of nothing comes from nothing
One necessary being = God

FIVE WAYS OF PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF

GOD
4. Argument from the Gradation
Some are better or worse
Comparison between an object and uttermost case
Degrees of perfection
No man on earth is the truest, noblest, and the best.
Supreme and perfect being exists
The supreme and perfect being = God

FIVE WAYS OF PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF

GOD
5. Argument from the Governance of the World
Most natural things lacks intelligence and knowledge cannot
move towards the end
Like an arrow reaching a target because of the
guidance/direction of an archer
The world has order but most things do not function unless
there is a director
Archer/Director = God

REFERENCES
1. www.infoplease.com/biography/var/thomasaquinas.html
2. http://www.catholicforum.com/forums/showthread.php?3633-StThomas-Aquinas-5-proofs-of-God-s-existence
3. http://www.biography.com/people/st-thomas-aquinas9187231#education
4. http://www.aquinasonline.com/