PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY

Happy are those who find wisdom, 

and those who get understanding.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

and all her paths are peace.

―Proverbs 3:13, 17

...wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul, 
or dwell in a body enslaved to sin.
―Wisdom 1:4

NOTE: The print editions of books listed on this page are not linked to. Please patronize your local library or Catholic book store.

PHILOSOPHY VS. THEOLOGY

Philosophy. The word philosophy comes from the Greek roots philo-, meaining 'love', and -sophos, meaning 'wisdom', hence philosophy means 'love of wisdom." It is the science and study of the nature of things, using reason to find truth. The ability to grasp the nature of a thing is the definition of common sense.
     It is by using philosophy that the ancient peoples proved that there is a God, and that there can only be one God.
     Although philosophy can do what science (a.k.a. natural philosophy) cannot — namely find the truth of the non-material — it is limited by the finite human mind.

Theology. Although related to philosophy, theology begins where philosophy leaves off. It continues with what the human mind cannot know by reason alone — that is, with what God has revealed — and is the use of reason to explore these revealed truths about God.


PHILOSOPHY

An Introduction to Philosophy for Young People [or for any beginner]
By Deacon Douglas McManaman

• The above link is to the free online edition.
• Also available in paperback and Kindle editions.

Peter Kreeft, Ph.D.
Professor of philosophy at Boston College, and prolific author.

The Underground Thomast

J. Budzisszewski, professor of government and philosophy at University of Texas, Austin. He is also an author and speaker.

• From his Web site: “My academic focus is the ethical basis of politics.…It means that choices concerning right and wrong, good and evil, are inseparable from political life — so, among other things, whether the politicians and citizens are virtuous makes a difference. I think and write mostly about classical natural law and natural rights philosophy; conscience and moral self-deception; virtue and moral character; family and sexuality in relation to political and social order; religion in public life; authentic vs. counterfeit versions of toleration and liberty; and the unravelling (and possible restoration) of our common culture.”
• The information on his site is geared to the scholar, the student, and the average reader.
  

BONUS

The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldview Behind The Lord of the Rings
Peter Kreeft, Ignatius Press: San Francisco, 2005

• From the back cover: "... Kreeft takes the reader on a voyage of discovery into the philosophical bones of Middle Earth. Like a good concordance, this book organizes the philosophical themes in The Lord of the Rings into 50 categories, accompanied by over 1,000 references to the text.
       "Since many of the great questions of philosophy are included in the 50-theme outline, this book can also be read as an engaging introduction to philosophy ..."

10 Uncommon Insights Into Evil  from The Lord Of The Rings

Peter Kreeft, Lecture at the McLaurin Institute, April 4, 2003 (free audio, mp3)
     Note: The page linked to also lists the subtopics covered.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY

Philosophy: Handmaiden of Theology
Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, Boston College
Catholic Answers Live, March 14, 2004 (free audio, mp3)

A Catholic Theology and Philosophy Resource Page

Doug McManaman is a Canadian Deacon; taught Religion, Philosophy, and the Theory of Knowledge for over 30 years; is chaplain of the Toronto Chapter of the Catholic Teachers Guild; and past president of the Canadian Fellowship of Catholic Scholars. He ministers to those with mental illness.

• Podcasts (including explaining philosophy through current events / pop culture), resources for high school religion and philosophy, resources for Catholic teachers, and more.
• A great resource!

New Saint Thomas Institute
Taylor Marshall, Ph.D., professor

• Online college where you can earn a certificate in Catholic theology and/or apologetics.
• Inexpensive as they are not seeking accreditation.
• Perfect for the average layperson who would like to have a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith and Her history.
• Gift memberships available.
• A portion of your tuition "is a form of almsgiving and goes toward providing over 2000+ monthly means (Mt 25:35-40) to the hungry and provide financial support and medical care for abandoned orphans (James 1:27) in China."

Taylor Marshall, Ph.D.

• How To Recognize 7 Diversion Tactics In Philosophy And Theology

THEOLOGY

SUMMA THEOLOGIAE

Summa Theologiae  (New Advent)

• Question 12: How God is known by us

A Shorter Summa: The Essential Philosophical Passages of St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica Edited and Explained
Peter Kreeft, Ignaitus Press: San Francisco, 1993

• 162 pages, glossary, extensive footnotes, illustrations to aid visualization and understanding of key concepts.
• Includes the senses (of words) in Scripture; proofs for the existence of God; God's nature; cosmology; body and soul; epistemology and psychology; ethics; various kinds of law, including natural law; etc. (such as the difference between happiness and contentment).

Thomas Aquinas In 50 Pages
Taylor Marshall, Ph.D.

• To get your free copy of this e-book, click on the link in the Web site's sidebar.

A Companion to the Summa
Fr. Walter Farrell, O.P.

• Clicking the Frames or No Frames buttons on the bottom of the page will take you to the beginning with Contents links for all four volumes.
  

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Father William Most Collection, The (Catholic Culture)
"The searchable theological works" of this "internationally-acclaimed theologian and Scripture scholar."

* Sacred Page, The

Pre-2020 archive  ●  Their Facebook page

Catholic scholars and professors of biblical studies and theology:  Drs. Michael Barber, John Bergsma, Brant Pitre, John Kincaid, John Sehorn, and James Prothro.

St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology
See Catholic Culture's review of this site and the SPCFBT's one weakness.

Regretfully, Catholic Culture no longer houses their site reviews. If I remember correctly, it was a difficult decision they made due to financial limitations.

Theology And Sanity
Frank Sheed, Ignatius Press: San Francisco, 2011, reprint edition (with ecclesiastical approval). (Originally published in 1946.)

• 471 pages, includes index.
• A thicker volume than the one below, Sheed provides the lay reader with a more thorough treatment here. As Karl Keating says of the book "Sheed understands and communicates better than anyone the importance of theology and its relationship to living sanely in today's world" (emphasis mine).

Theology For Beginners
F.J. Sheed, Angelico Press:Brooklyn, 2011, reprint edition
(Originally published by Sheed & Ward in 1957.)

• 241 pages, 20 chapters.
• This thin volume takes the lay reader from the very beginning with the topic of spirit (without which knowledge we lack the understanding of ourselves). Frank Sheed then walks us through the Infinite Spirit and the Trinity — Three Persons with one nature. (These four chapters alone would be useful for helping to explain the necessity of the existence of God.) 
• I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to understand the Trinity.

Page last updated: 2020.06.07