4.4 Monasticism and Religious Orders

Monasticism and Religious Orders

Monasticism originated as a discipline of separation from the world

Foundational vows are celibacy, poverty, and obedience

Over time became less isolated from the world and more involved in social services

• Isolation: copying books, wineries, art
• Enclosure: education, hospitality to pilgrims and refugees, hospitals, orphanages
• Apostolic: Go to the poor and needy where they are, missions

Different orders add different vows and ideals

New orders sometimes founded to deal with new challenges in Christianity

Thomas of Aquino, Italy (Aquinas) 1225-1274

• Life as a Dominican Monk
• Encounter with Islamic philosophy and Greek philosophy (especially Aristotle) transmitted by Muslims
• Can the existence of God be proven logically, apart from faith and revelation?
• Summa Theologica (1267-1273) intellectual arguments about being and cosmos
• Summa Contra Gentiles (1258-1260) arguments for Christian belief that assume intellect alone
• Scholasticism
• Skepticism, experimental science, objective observation of natural phenomena

Aquinas’ five proofs for the existence of God

• The unmoved Mover: Whatever is moved, is moved by something, and since an endless regress is not possible, a Prime Mover is required.
• The first Cause: Every result has a cause and since an endless regress is impossible, there must be a First Cause.
• The ultimate Necessity: Essentially a repeat of Reason (2.), there must be a source for all consequences which follow.
• Perfect Source: All perfection in the world requires, as its source, an Ultimate Perfection.
• Purpose: Even lifeless things have a purpose which must be defined by something outside themselves, since only living things can have an internal purpose.

As summarized by Campus Ministry at Aquinas College

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