WOF 435: The Enduring Relevance of St. Thomas Aquinas

Most in contemporary secular culture have probably never heard of the name "Thomas Aquinas." However, his thought remains more pertinent than ever—not only to theology and philosophy but also to current conversations on how to build a more stable, just, and prosperous political order. Today, we discuss the evergreen genius of St. Thomas Aquinas and how his legacy continues in the life and work of the contemporary Dominican theologian, Fr. Paul Murray. A listener asks, does the devil know that his rebellion is ultimately futile? 00:00 | Intro 01:12 | Bishop Barron in Rome 02:01 | Aquinas' impact on Bishop Barron's formation 03:56 | Why medieval thinkers like Aquinas still matter 06:18 | The relationship between metaphysics and ethics 07:29 | God as Being itself rather than as the greatest of beings 12:43 | How God can be both transcendent and immanent 15:58 | God's non-competitive relationship with Creation 21:29 | Defining true human and social goods 23:00 | Does metaphysical speculation have a role in politics? 25:45 | Fr. Paul Murray, St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Dominican charism 29:54 | Listener question 31:49 | Word on Fire Institute Show Notes: Learn about the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/ NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member ! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.