Theological Word of the Day

Refers to the five arguments for the existence of God given by Saint Thomas Aquinas. 1) Argument from Motion: if things are in motion, they must have been moved by an ultimate mover. 2) Argument from Efficient Causes: if there are effects, there must be an efficient cause for the effects. 3) Argument from Possibility and Necessity (Reductio argument): if contingent things exist, there must be a non-contingent explanation for them. 4) Argument from Gradation of Being: if there is gradation in being (some things are better than others), there must also be something perfect, a standard which is to all beings the cause of their being, goodness, and every other perfection, including their perception of these things. 5) Argument from Design: if there is purpose and design to all things, then there must be a sufficient designer which births, guides, and directs all purpose and ends.