Why study Thomas Aquinas with Simon Oliver

[@markcianciolo9384]

Another very fine video from the U of Nottingham. I am a graduate of a Jesuit university and studied Thomas as intensely as an 18 to 21 year old can. Reading Thomas was not only an intellectual awakening, it was also an intensely emotional experience. For he recast the categorical structures (as Kant might say) of my mind and reset my psyche. And it changed my life forever for the better. Your videos are a good length, for they always leave me yearning for more. And that's how a great teacher ends every class. You have given us a wonderful introduction to the Angelic Doctor. A first taste. Which increases our appetite for more. I responded also to your video on Negative Theology under the name CunyaFunya.

[@uniofnottingham]

Thank you very much Mark. We shall pass your comments on to the Department of Theology and Religious Studies.

[@uniofnottingham]

There is so much written on Aquinas, that no one book does everything! But this collection ofessays is pretty good: Brian Davies ed., Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae: Critical Essays, Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield, 2006. - Prof. Thomas O'Loughlin

[@commodorekitty]

Thank you very much for this video.

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Thank you very much.

[@bic1349]

Thanks!

[@SalmaMassoud]

Well, my issue is not whethere God exists or not, for some reason I can't expain, my starting point is that God does exist. My real problem is reconciling all what I think and expect and have been brought up to believe about God (being all good, all capable, etc...) with the horrible unfair world we live in. I keep looking for answers on that but I still have a lot to read and understand before I understand if I ever do. One of the things I wanted to do since I was 19 was to study theology. These videos are just great because they fill in a big passion I have. Thanks for posting them.

[@jkovert]

So after seven months, what do you think? what have you learned?

[@dubunking2473]

Salma Massoud You asked one of the most penetrating questions about the existence of evil. There is really no perfect answers as far as I could see. However, the Christian tradition has the insight which I believe is profound which is that without evil, we could not really understand and experience love. Without sacrifice, there is no love. The life of Christ is a supreme manifestation of sacrifice, therefore love. This is the best I can come up with. I do not know if other religions can give a better account of why evil exist. Buddhism for example stresses the importance of dealing with desire as it generates all ills as humans perceive them. It would not be able to account for natural disasters.

[@commodorekitty]

But isn't this what the discussion in this video suggests -- that if we say that God is good, then we must bear in mind that we don't fully grasp the meaning, extent, or implications of God's goodness, so that our expectations of what this goodness consists of or of the way this goodness is expressed will possibly perhaps unavoidably be thwarted? I don't study theology but that's my two cents. I've only recently come upon these videos. They're pithy and leave you wanting for more. :)

[@mehulmac23]

Thank you very much !!

[@tomgreene6579]

Anyone out there reading Schillebeeckx?

[@JohnDaCajun]

Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius

[@jamesshelburn5825]

All inclusive as limiting as eternity

[@EkaraLibrae]

Aquinas was not a Elect of God... I refute his works... E.G. He cannot even explain what "Law of God" (the actual Law of God) is. I am not referring to "Just Law..." Also, he has no idea what this mean: "Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit." He does not know the secret behind the "Resurrection." He does not know the secret of the "Cup of Suffering." He does not know the secret of Garden of Eden. He does not know the secret of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, including the Tree of Life. He indoctrinated himself by worshipping a decoy protagonist that was executed - taken out of the story. No one, not even one, including Aquinas, cannot name the authentic anonymous author of Gospels. The 12 Apostles, all the Saints, all the Popes, Aquinas himself, and you, including the false protagonist, Jesus, are "Non-Elects." There are three Elects of God. One is the author of Gospel. The other the author of Garden of Eden. The third is the author of both, a metaphor for you to figure out on your own. For 4000 years (more or less), no one has not solved the mystery of Resurrection. Solve that and you will certainly be discern by knowing the actual Law of God. Unfortunately only an Elect of God is able to decode what Non-Elects cannot do. As Stephen Hawking's put it: God does not play dice." If only he knew the actual Law of God.

[@danyboon4851]

please elaborate. Who are the three elect?