Summa 21: The Natural Theology of a 21st Century Christian

By Ronald Cooke

Let us unite our perception of the physical with our experience of the spiritual.

It's the 21st century. Christians are being challenged to establish a reasonable consistency between the doctrines of theology and accumulated human knowledge. Scientists are struggling to understand puzzling attributes of the Cosmos which cannot be measured by conventional technology.

Both science and Christian theology seeking ultimate knowledge. Could they be on parallel paths?

Summa 21 is a passionate book about Christian Theology. The discussion is creative, disruptive, and credible. It explores the philosophical subjects of truth, reality, alternative dimensions, multiple universes, the relationship of science and theology, our quest to understand the nature of God, and how we make a conscious connection with the spiritual. Summa 21examines our traditional beliefs about evolution, creation, hell, and heaven and presents several concepts to align our ideas with existing knowledge. There is a discussion of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and a comprehensive description of 21st century Christian values.

Christian theology cannot expect to achieve spiritual revelation without the tools and knowledge revealed by science. Scientists will never fully understand the Cosmos unless they are willing to embrace the spiritual potential of not-physical reality.

It is time for a renaissance of theology that transcends the limitations of ancient convention and innovative science must come together with creative theology. Let us combine our perception of natural law with the revelation of God's wisdom.

Christians have an obligation to preserve, protect and promote the work of Jesus Christ in 21st century terms.

The spiritual exists. If God wants to speak to us, we should listen.
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Because this text follows in the philosophical and theological tradition of Thomas Aquinas, it is entitled Summa 21.

In the 13th century Thomas Aquinas, who was an Italian Dominican friar, priest, philosopher and theologian (1225 - 1274) wrote Summa Theologica, a compilation of the main theological teachings of the Catholic Church, intended to be an instructional guide for theology students, including seminarians and the literate laity. A prominent proponent of natural theology, he argued that God is the source of the light of natural reason and the light of faith. Thomas blended Greek philosophy and Christian doctrine by suggesting that rational thinking and the study of nature, like revelation, were valid ways to understand truths pertaining to God. According to Thomas, faith and reason complement rather than contradict each other, each giving different views of the same truth. A discrepancy between faith and reason arises from a shortcoming of either natural science or scriptural interpretation. Faith can reveal a divine mystery that eludes scientific observation. On the other hand, science can suggest where fallible humans misinterpret a scriptural metaphor as a literal statement of fact.
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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1520324359
• ISBN13: 9781520324357
• Release Date: January 2017
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"