Catholic Theology Show How Aquinas Made Me Catholic w/ Dr. Francis Beckwith
Jun 3, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Dr. Francis Beckwith, a professor at Baylor University and author of 'Never Doubt Thomas,' shares his inspiring journey back to Catholicism, heavily influenced by St. Thomas Aquinas. He discusses how Aquinas' philosophical insights helped reconcile his beliefs and bridge evangelical thought with classical theology. The dialogue explores topics like justification, the nature of grace, and the transformative power of moral formation. Beckwith also reflects on the complexities of divine agency, encouraging a richer connection with faith.
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Beckwith's Journey to Aquinas
- Francis Beckwith shares how he drifted from Catholicism, embraced evangelicalism, and then rediscovered Aquinas as an evangelical Thomist.
- His journey involved studying Thomism at a Jesuit university and realizing Aquinas's unified Christian vision beyond denominational lines.
Evangelical Return to Classical Theology
- There is a growing movement among some Reformed evangelical scholars to recover classical theology and Aquinas's insights.
- This counters a drift in contemporary evangelicalism away from classical views like divine simplicity and analogical predication of God's attributes.
Aquinas Explains God's Relationship to Creation
- Aquinas's metaphysics unpacks biblical truths that God is creator, distinct yet sustaining all creation.
- This avoids extremes of pantheism and deism by affirming God's unique existence and ongoing participation in creation.
