In your opinion is Thomas Aquinas the greatest theologian of all time with his classic work Summa Theologica ?

That’s what I’ve been told. But interposed between Aquinas and the trophy looms the formidable Augustine. I have soaked up just enough of the musings of both to understand that I will never be in a position to make so arrogant a choice. Besides, I’ve been informed by folks who know about such things that when it comes to theological gunslinging, Maimonedes is one BMF.

Not being Catholic, I have not studied Aquinas. While I understand that many see the Catholic church as the “mother” church, I don’t share that idea and would suggest others as the greatest of theologians. For example, Yeshua, more commonly known in the US as Jesus. He not only had all the answers but lived them all—perfectly. As a child, He answered the rabbis well. As a teacher, He had answers that others had not yet connected, and before such answers, His detractors were silent.

Let’s just say that when I’ve read other theologians (those who followed Aquinas) and Christian apologists, they don’t seem to bringing much new to the table that wasn’t already brought by Aquinas. That doesn’t mean that he is the be-all-end-all, but it seems that modern Christian theologians necessarily build upon his ideas and framework.

In terms of influence within Christianity as a whole, not just Catholicism, Augustine is the greatest. In terms of intellectual achievement and broader cultural significance, yes, I’d say Aquinas is the greatest.

Augustine synthesized Christian and Platonic ideas. Aquinas took Augustinian theology and further synthesized it with Aristotle’s philosophy.

Comparing the 13th-century Islamic Caliphate with Western Christendom at that time, the former was clearly more advanced. Yet the West found its way to the Enlightenment and Islam did not. Why? A part of the answer may be because the work of Aquinas seemed to show that faith and reason could be brought into harmony. After Aquinas, religious authorities tolerated inquiry into natural and moral philosophy even when it relied on the work of non-Christian thinkers. Eventually, Aquinas’s harmonization of faith and reason would be questioned, but by that time, Western science had absorbed what it could learn from ancient and Islamic sources and was ready to go further.

Please define “greatist”. How do you choose/select/rate?

Some of us would posit that Francis of Assisi is the most important.

Dam, you guys are good. Nothing to add here.

Aquanis and Augustine also best to study in context with the theology, church polity, architecture, and contemporous philosophical thought.

Franciss of Assisi cared for animals, so I’d say he was the greatest. He truly cared for animals.

The humans really don’t care too much for anyone but humans, especially themselves, and others like themselves with a few exceptions.

St. Francis appears to have loved amimals, so for me, that is good.

Francis as theologian? This shouldn’t be a popularity contest. More people are aware of both Francis or Mother Theresa than have ever heard of Augustine or Aquinas but that should be irrelevant. This question is about the genius involved in reconciling reason and rationality with what is at bottom some very irrational beliefs and practices.

Can anyone explain why it is that every time I attempt to type Aquinas on this phone, it pops up on the screen as Aquila? Particularly since it is Maimonides who has the legendary handle of “the eagle”.