Description
Book SynopsisAims to overturn the long-standing reputation of Thomas Aquinas as the most moderate and rational exponent of the Christian faith. The author seeks to reveal Aquinas to be one of the most zealous Dominicans (Domini Canes) or Hounds of the Lord - an ardent defender of papal supremacy, the Inquisition, and the persecution of Jews.
Trade ReviewIn this impassioned criticism, Drury condemns the prevailing view of Aquinas as a champion of reason and morality. With verve and wit Drury relentlessly documents how Aquinas opted for faith over reason, expediency over elementary decency, and cruelty over humanity in order to justify the Crusades, the Inquisition, the torture and murder of devout dissenters, and the condemnation of all who did not wholeheartedly obey the often-changing orthodoxy of the Catholic Church. Contemporary defenders of the faith and Aquinas should meet the challenge of this book—if they can. -- John Kekes, SUNY at Albany
Table of ContentsPart 1 I. The Horrors of Theocracy Chapter 2 1. The Historical Setting Chapter 3 2. The Fanaticism of Faith Chapter 4 3. The Lost Promise of Natural Law Part 5 II. The Subjugation of Reason Chapter 6 1. The Intellectual Setting Chapter 7 2. William of Saint-Amour Chapter 8 3. Siger of Brabant Chapter 9 4. The Usurpation of the Double Truth Chapter 10 5. Aristotle and the Bible Chapter 11 6. Faith and Reason Chapter 12 7. The Authority of Scoundrels Chapter 13 8. Weapon Against Modernity Chapter 14 9. The Anti-Modernist Oath Chapter 15 10. The Appeal of Fideism Chapter 16 11. Is Faith Impervious to Reason? Part 17 III. The Politics of Salvation Chapter 18 1. Papal Supremacy and the Two Swords Chapter 19 2. The Pragmatism of Natural Law Chapter 20 3. The Bigotry of Faith Chapter 21 4. Heathens, Heretics, and Jews Chapter 22 5. Just War and Holy War Chapter 23 6. Death to Heretics Chapter 24 7. Aquinas and the Inquisition Part 25 IV. Sin, Sex, and Celibacy Chapter 26 1. Eunuchs for Heaven Chapter 27 2. The "Aristotelian" Argument Chapter 28 3. Sharing the Agony Chapter 29 4. The Sex Life of Adam and Eve Chapter 30 5. To Marry or To Burn? Chapter 31 6. Carnal Pleasure and the Contemplation of God Chapter 32 7. Those Pesky Polygamous Patriarchs Chapter 33 8. The Crimes of Celibacy Chapter 34 9. The Vices of Celibacy: Abelard, Heloise, and Augustine Part 35 V. Aquinas and Modernity: A Dialogue Chapter 36 1. Christianity and the Inquisition Chapter 37 2. The Silence of Conscience Chapter 38 3. The Separation of Church and State Chapter 39 4. Western Civilization and the Islamic Threat Chapter 40 5. Freedom and Licentiousness Chapter 41 6. The New Averroist Menace Chapter 42 7. The Disenchantment of Postmodernity Part 43 VI. Recovering the Lost Promise of Natural Law Chapter 44 1. Natural Law and Human Nature Chapter 45 2. A Minimalist Reading Chapter 46 3. Abhorrence of Nature Chapter 47 4. Conscience Chapter 48 5. Conventionalism Chapter 49 6. Legal Positivism Chapter 50 7. Natural Law and Divine Revelation Part 51 Conclusion
