This concise book tells the story of the most important theological work of the Middle Ages; the vast Summa theologiae of Thomas Aquinas; which holds a unique place in Western religion and philosophy. Written between 1266 and 1273; the Summa was conceived by Aquinas as an instructional guide for teachers and novices and a compendium of all the approved teachings of the Catholic Church. It synthesizes an astonishing range of scholarship; covering hundreds of topics and containing more than a million and a half words―and was still unfinished at the time of Aquinas's death.Here; Bernard McGinn; one of today’s most acclaimed scholars of medieval Christianity; vividly describes the world that shaped Aquinas; then turns to the Dominican friar’s life and career; examining Aquinas’s reasons for writing his masterpiece; its subject matter; and the novel way he organized it. McGinn gives readers a brief tour of the Summa itself; and then discusses its reception over the past seven hundred years. He looks at the influence of the Summa on such giants of medieval Christendom as Meister Eckhart; its ridicule during the Enlightenment; the rise and fall of Neothomism in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; the role of the Summa in the post–Vatican II church; and the book’s enduring relevance today.Tracing the remarkable life of this iconic work; McGinn’s wide-ranging account provides insight into Aquinas’s own understanding of the Summa as a communication of the theological wisdom that has been given to humanity in revelation.
#704575 in Books Princeton University Press 2010-02-21Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.30 x .80 x 5.40l; .75 #File Name: 0691146136296 pages
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. We Have Argued Over Religion and Politics ForeverBy Joseph O. Falkinham"Religion in American Politics" is a well-written and educating history of the arguments over the role of religion in the politics of the United States. The book is tightly written and strays little from its chosen pathway and the chapters can be comfortably read is a single sitting. Thus; one can move through the lessons; era by era and develop a comprehensive picture of our constant discussions over the role of religion in the political life the United States. Three important points stand out: (1) the book documents the fact that the arguments over the place of religion have been with us since the colonization of Americas and likely will remain with us; (2) the impact of religion has risen and fallen through the years; and (3) secularism or the religious left may have great difficulty in providing a strong alternative to the religious right; as their constituents do not share common ground. A thought-provoking trip through the history of the United States.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy Customerinteresting history about a fascinating subject0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Informative Well-writtenBy BKLVRLiving in the 21st century; it is easy to forget how overwhelmingly Protestant the United States was at its beginning. The desire by some believers to declare our country a "Christian" nation has always existed and continues to this day. Frank Lambert has dealt with this particular aspect of our history extremely well.
