The thought of Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), patron saint of educators, provided the great pivot in Western civilization and, likely, the world. He reasoned thus: God is Truth and known primarily by faith and scripture. God created the world, giving people the capability to reason. The human capacity for reason drives the search for truth.
Therefore, faith and reason cannot conflict as they derive from the same source and lead to the same end, truth. So went his thinking during the tumultuous medieval period in which he lived. His ideas enabled scientific investigation to proceed, even if it took more intellectual battles for reason and scientific investigation to stand its Thomistic ground.
Today, in the year 2024 of our Lord, he might send this letter to family and friends, especially those who gather with family for the holidays and wish to have peace, even if politics arise in discussion.
"To the illustrious readers of the Indiana policy Review, etc., Brother Thomas from Aquino of the Order of the Preachers sends his greeting etc.
"I have fully come to understand the pious care that you have concerning" the matters that produce tension in our time, but "it would please me that on these things you would seek the counsel of others more expert in such matters. Still, because I considered it unbecoming that I be found out to be a negligent helper for your solicitude or that I be ungrateful of your love, I have taken care to respond" to you about contentious issues "without the prejudice of a better opinion. I hesitate but proceed to address the matters on your mind.
"May I say, I am humbled to be called upon to offer counsel, for my fellow students referred to me as 'the dumb ox.' It is with gratitude I heard my teacher, the sanctified Albertus Magnus, say, 'Thomas is called a dumb ox but his bellowing will one day resound throughout the world.'
"Regarding counsel, I advise an open mind. In my Exposition of Aristotle's Metaphysics, I wrote, 'In the acceptance or rejection of opinions, a person should not be influenced by love or hate for the person who has the opinion but rather by the desire to ascertain truth.' I follow Aristotle on this point. Aristotle says we ought to love both sides, those whose opinion we follow and those whose opinion we reject. In debate, both sides 'are striving to discover truth.'
"Even those who reject our opinion or judgment have 'helped us in finding truth.'
Some say no judgment is possible in matters, especially those pertaining to ethics. I have even read that "There is no good or bad, there is only power." * Such opinions are based in misunderstanding of human capacity.
"'Human reason must proceed from the precepts of the natural law as from certain common ... principles to more particular dispositions. We go from general rule to particular situation. The differences between people come from different experiences. Were I living at the north pole, I would build my house from ice; I live in Roccaseca, Italy, so use wood and stone. Laws reflect the concrete reality of life; however, 'because of the uncertainty of human judgment...laws are often divergent and even contradictory.'
"Nonetheless, 'the truth is the same for everyone but it is not equally known by everyone." Hinduism holds this same truth but expresses it differently, when its scripture says "truth is one but sages call it by many names.'
"Happily, 'reason may cause laws to be changed because it seems to be the nature of human reason to progress by stages from the less perfect to the more perfect.' Laws will then change so 'institutions might prove less frequently deficient in respect to the common weal.' The changes are a product not of anger, shrill assertion, or harsh vigilance, but reason and education.
"'I am optimistic that in contentious matters, we will find a more perfect peace. That is my hope -- and "hope leads to charity,' appropriate for this season and every season.
"Felicem Nativitatem vobis opto et Felicem Annum Novum, Dei gratia.**