Thomas Aquinas presents a reasonable argument for the need of faith in the search for God. The truth of the intelligibility of God can be approached in two ways. First, Aquinas says that God can be known by the rational efforts of man, on reason alone. Secondly, since some men are incapable for various reasons to pursue God as philosophers or theologians, which many times takes many years of devoted study and application to arrive at some truths, God has provided faith. Faith, presents a way to God, which is common to all, yet not chosen by some because of various inhibitions. Aquinas names three reasons why some would be hindered in finding God if reason were the only way to God:
"The truth of the intelligible things of God is twofold, one to which the inquiry of reason can attain, the other which surpasses the whole range of human reason, both are fittingly proposed by God to man as an object of belief. We must first show this with regard to that truth which is attainable by the inquiry of reason, lest it appears to some, that since it can be attained by reason, it was useless to make it an object of faith" (SCG,Bk1 Ch4).
Three Reasons Faith is Important in Search for God
Aquinas wanted to give the benefit of the doubt that everyone , in one way or another, can easily find God. Aquinas saw into the nature of man, perhaps because he knew man was fallible. He came up with three reasons why man would fall short of his search for God if he depended on reason alone.
First, he says that searching for God requires diligent inquiry in order to gather the fruit of toiling for this type of knowledge. Aquinas noticed that some persons do not feel drawn to spending many hours in diligent searching for God by philosophical inquiry. He says, reason falls short in this way, since it is so difficult and many just give up altogether.
Secondly, some people do not use rational means because their indisposition of temperament; that is, it conflicts with a very active character. A person can be driven by a passionate temperament in the active life, yet not driven towards the contemplation of the intelligent things of God.
Thirdly, Aquinas gives the reason few are willing to take up the work of searching for the intelligent things of God is because of pure laziness. This kind of search requires that a person have some previous knowledge of other principles, which further study would require. Still after the first steps, others steps are required and further knowledge must build upon previous knowledge. He says that the science of Metaphysics which searches for first principles is of this kind of knowledge.
Faith to the Rescue
Aquinas says because of these three reasons many would fail to find God and to find the natural happiness which all search for. Faith was given to men to save him from the possible failure of reason after a long search. Faith does not displace an indisposed temperament, but submits human nature to a supernatural virtue, which disposes that temperament by grace. Lastly, faith with not heal a persons laziness in the search for God, but charity will move his assenting will, so that the burden and sorrow which drags the souls down can find momentary relief by the promises of eternal life. Faith does not replace the diligent inquiry of theologians and philosophers, but give the soul these truths without the many years of study that would be required of one in search of them by reason alone.
Aquinas summarizes his position by saying that "accordingly the divine clemency has made this salutary commandment, that even some things which reason is able to investigate must be held by
faith : so that all may share in the knowledge of God easily, and without doubt or error. Hence it is written (Eph. 4:17,18
NAB): "So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart" and (Isa. liv. 13
NAB): "All your sons shall be taught by the LOR
D " (SCG,Bk 1,Ch4).
God understands man better than he understands himself and should rightly be given the faith due to Him. In short, God doesn't provide excuses for not searching for Him, but he gives Himself by faith so that they will "seek" and shall "find" without the possibility of failure of reasons efforts alone, indisposed temperament or laziness of spirit.
