Faith and Evidence (Aquinas 101)

Is there sufficient evidence to believe in the mysteries of the Christian faith? What we believe is no lie, legend, or lunacy.

Faith & Evidence (Aquinas 101) - Fr. James Brent, O.P.

Subscribe to our channel here:

--

Aquinas 101 is a project of the Thomistic Institute that seeks to promote Catholic truth through short, engaging video lessons. You can browse earlier videos at your own pace or enroll in one of our Aquinas 101 email courses on St. Thomas Aquinas and his masterwork, the Summa Theologiae. In these courses, you'll learn from expert scientists, philosophers, and theologians—including Dominican friars from the Province of St. Joseph.

Enroll in Aquinas 101 to receive the latest videos, readings, and podcasts in your email inbox each Tuesday morning.

Help us film Aquinas 101!

Want to represent the Thomistic Institute on your campus? Check out our online store!

Stay connected on social media:

#Aquinas101 #ThomisticInstitute #ThomasAquinas #Catholic #ScienceAndFaith #ScienceAndReligion

This video was made possible through the support of grant #61944 from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

[maxalaintwo]

I like CS Lewis' definition of faith; I paraphrase:

"I'm not telling someone to believe in Christianity if their best reason tells them not too. Faith is not simply belief without evidence, it's the virtue of sticking to what one's reason and experience knows to be true despite one's changing circumstances and moods."

[Chris-yrwb]

"The certainty that the divine light gives is greater than that which the light of natural reason gives."
St. Thomas Aquinas, STh II-II, 171, 5, obj.3.

[bu]

4:50: there is some debate about whether it’s necessary for us to logically understand, to some extent, the truth. I think it can be stated too strongly that our faith is totally disconnected from logic and reason and we have no idea sans revelation why it makes sense to have faith: as if there is no articulable reason to have faith besides “God told me to” closer to Abraham and Isaac (even though Abraham had REASON to have FAITH). Jesus performed many many miracles for this reason. Faith must start with some baseline logic / reason. Faith is the move beyond that into accepting what can never be known without God’s revelation.

[opencurtin]

Nice to see such an intelligent man giving his life to Jesus Christ and explaining the faith ..

[roisinpatriciagaffney]

We are forever grateful to the triune God for showering upon us, His creatures, His truth, goodness and beauty.
Thank you, Father Brent.
Pax Christi.

[anonemoose]

This video couldn't have come at a better time. God Bless 🙏

[akostarkanyi]

Some evidence: Authors of the Gospels might be slandered – with the whole thing being just lies –, but Paul wrote some angry or at least passionate letters to the Galatians and Corinthians mentioning miracles in them happening among those people (2 Cor 12, 12; Gal 3, 4-5). If miracles hadn't happen there, then he would have made himself ridiculous in their eyes – but his purpose was to make them take him seriously. So it is logical that miracles did happen with them and Paul. But if they did why could they not have happened with the other apostles and Jesus, too? And if they did, then why could not be true everything the Gospels describe? Luke, Paul's friend, an eye-wittness wrote about miracles happening with Paul. Was he right then – as real miracles did happen with Paul as we know from his letters? Did Luke tell the truth? But did he still have to lie in connection with Jesus? This would not be logical. Paul's letters are authentic and realistic. And from them a few logical steps lead to the accounts of the Gospels about Jesus being true.

[namapalsu]

Keep up the preambule fidei series.

We lived in an unbelieving world where religion is look as myth and unreasonable.

[jamestyler]

What a fantastic explanation of our faith, well done!

[causalaetitiae]

Cristall clear, illuminating, beautiful, profound and true. Or simply: Thomistic.

[brucerussell]

It is often easy to get tied in knots listening to apologetics vs atheist rhetoric on utube. The beautiful message delivered here, cuts straight to the heart of our true life, that is that nothing can substitute for our experience of the living Christ. If you want to experience God in your life .. you will and it will transform you. Thank you 🙏🏻

[shadowlinks]

Great video. Thanks for all your work, Thomistic Institute friends.

[julesjgreig]

Thank you, Fr. Brent - excellent. Your summary contained interesting references to supernatural signs (e.g. healing). I’m unclear what Thomas thinks about these things and go back to 1Cor12, outlining the variety of manifestations of the Spirit’s power: is this something Thomas talks to? (Coming from Charismatic tradition, it was surprising to me to hear his references to Gifts of the Holy Spirit centring around exegesis of Isaiah 11). Thanks again.

[tdacosta]

Wonderful video. Thank you. God Bless the Dominicans.

[mvwil]

This is EXACTLY what the world needs right now. And the problem with so much protestant and uninformed Catholic apologetics. The faith is not self-evident. God's bare existence can be shown by reason, but that we believe in Christ at all is due to the supernatural operation of God's grace in our being.

[jasonpalladino]

This was so well reasoned! Faith is a gift from God, and because God is truth and truth is one, this faith is confirmed with various signs of credibility.

[daymagtoto]

This is very very beautiful. This is so true!

[xavier.abraham]

After watching these videos, I'm earnestly desiring to be a Dominican (Lay Dominican). Would you have resources to discern the call ?

[renecordero]

This is an excellent presentation. Faith is a gift from God, a gift that complemented by reason and the evidence from our senses. Beautiful!

[lauzeladasse]

Jesus is Lord, he died for us!!! Thanks, T.I God Bless you.