Blog #3

Trevor Poirier

29 July 2013

AP English 11

Mrs.  Wilhelmus

Middle Ages and Christianity

            When researching famous philosophers from the past, we saw bits about religion from certain people and tons of ideas about life that were often complex.  Many were based off of observation and estimation.  However, religion and philosophy never seemed to intersect, and definitely were not grouped in the same category.  This was until Plato and Aristotle were greatly influenced by Christian beliefs.  Plato was influenced by St. Augustine, and Aristotle by St. Thomas Aquinas.  For once, two realms previously perceived as separate crossed paths.

            When these paths crossed, they met to form one idea for Plato and Aristotle.  Two philosophers that never really got into religion, much less Christianity, found a way to combine them into one idea or ideas.  Instead of reason and faith butting heads and conflicting each other like before, they would do the exact opposite.  It was discovered that maybe the basis of reason could be religion, maybe Christianity could touch on the same areas as philosophy while providing some clarity of belief about after-life.  Along with providing clarity or at least something to believe about after-life, it gave something storied regarding human purpose and creation. 

            In other words, intelligence finally met belief.  Previously, the most intelligent people thought they could solve all the world's problems on their own.  Thinking unknown information could be solved simply from knowledge, they were naive.  But when Plato and Aristotle were Christianized, it gave room for the idea that belief and knowledge could work hand in hand.  For knowledge and intellectuality can only take us so far, then faith and beliefs take over.