A Look Back in Time

Below is a quick look at two important political and religious figures: Thomas Aquinas and Martin Luther. Although the two men lived in different times, they each had firm views about God and religion.

Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas referred to the "Double Means" when he asserted the truth about God. He believed there were some truths beyond human comprehension, and other truths philosophers should believe based on reason. The relationship between the two parts is first, demonstrating what the thing in question is by finding out everything one can about it. The second part is knowing that God is and that knowing everything about God is beyond human reason. To illustrate his point, Aquinas stated that man is limited to knowledge through his senses. In contrast, an angel has more intellect and is guided by God so an angel knows more about God. However, neither can fully understand Him. A person using this method to prove any given point would argue that although one cannot examine by reason every aspect of God, there is no doubt that God exists and one should not immediately reject Him.

Martin Luther

Luther's three principal arguments regarding Communion were that everyone was meant to drink Christ's blood, that the body and blood of Christ are in the bread and wine, and that mass is not a sacrifice and should not be turned into a "marketplace run for profit." Luther argued the gospels all stated Christ referred to "All" when he said who may drink his blood, unlike the Catholic Church which argued not everyone may drink from the wine. He also argued against the Church that although people may not fully comprehend the idea of the body and blood of Christ being in the bread and wine, faith allows them to believe it and it is not idolatrous if they hold the bread and wine sacred because they hold Christ sacred, not the actual objects. And, he argued that mass had turned into a business because the Church used Communion to motivate people to donate money. The principal intellectual influence upon Luther seemed to have been the Cardinal of Cambrai, Pierre d'Ailly.