Theology 101
Can you just give me a summary?
Theology might sound daunting mostly due to academics who tend to overcomplicate things they are supposed to simplify. Do you know the feeling when you come across a professor that finally helps you understand a subject in a way that nobody was ever able to explain before? It’s wonderful, isn’t it? I once met a British guy who would say it’s ‘fandabidozi’, but anyway.
Meet Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Do you know when you have to read a book for an exam but you are not really into it, then you look for a summary just to help you get by?
Meet the Summa.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, who was born 800 years ago, came up with a summary of Theology. The name? Summa Theologica. He does sound like someone who likes to simplify things, doesn’t he?
Summa Theologica is a book for beginners. It was written hundreds of years ago and it is still relevant. Here is what Saint Thomas says in its prologue:
Because the doctor of Catholic truth ought not only to teach the proficient, but also to instruct beginners (according to the Apostle: As unto little ones in Christ, I gave you milk to drink, not meat — 1 Corinthians 3:1-2), we purpose in this book to treat of whatever belongs to the Christian religion, in such a way as may tend to the instruction of beginners. We have considered that students in this doctrine have not seldom been hampered by what they have found written by other authors, partly on account of the multiplication of useless questions, articles, and arguments, partly also because those things that are needful for them to know are not taught according to the order of the subject matter, but according as the plan of the book might require, or the occasion of the argument offer, partly, too, because frequent repetition brought weariness and confusion to the minds of readers.
Endeavouring to avoid these and other like faults, we shall try, by God’s help, to set forth whatever is included in this sacred doctrine as briefly and clearly as the matter itself may allow.
I think he was also mad at academics that overcomplicate things. Then he wrote a summary for you. Go read it!
You can start with just the first part of the Summa Theologica.