ABSTRACT
Chapter 4 focuses on two aspects of Aquinas’s doctrine on faith and reason that are often misunderstood.
First, it is commonly believed that there cannot be conclusive evidence in support of faith, because otherwise believers would have no freedom and consequently no merit in believing. In contrast, a more comprehensive view is offered. According to Aquinas, the merit in question is due to the readiness to believe and to love for God, whether or not conclusive evidence is provided.
Second, it is commonly said that to believe in God, one needs to firmly hold, by demonstration or by faith, that God exists. In contrast, it is argued that Aquinas would reject both views: the former is inconsistent with his overall doctrine on faith and reason; the latter falls into circularity. For Aquinas, believers need to believe God’s existence before getting in touch with divine revelation, but they can hold this belief hesitantly, whereas it is only divine grace that offers all of them the ability to firmly hold that belief.
