While Aquinus often follows suit with the ideas of his
philosophical predecessor Agustin, and many similarities have been drawn
between the two, one major divergence in their theories stands out; Conversion
by the sword.
Agustine
was the first of the two to address the issue of religious conversion with the
use of force. Initially, he does not seem to think violence has a place in
solving religious issues. Augustine holds that if the peaceful spreading of God
were to be done so with violence, it would contradict the message the religion
intended to spread in the first place. He says in one of his earlier works, On
True Religion, “Christ did nothing by force, but did everything by persuading
and warning”. [1] Following the example laid by his messiah,
Agustine encouraged persuasion and example be used to bring about
conversion. However, in response to the
historically violent conflict with the Donnatists (a rebellious sect of the
church), Agustine seems to have shifted his views. In a letter to his friend, (Letter 185, to
Boniface) Agustine refines his opinion by stating that those men who cannot be
converted by teaching, should not be neglected, but instead motivated by force.
He states, “Many have found advantage in being first compelled by fear or pain,
so that afterwards they may be influenced by teaching, or might follow out in
act what they had already learned”.[2]
Although Agustine is not completely consistent with his opinion of conversion
by the sword, one can glean from his writings that while he believed teaching
was the most effective means of conversion, conversion by the sword was
certainly justified and effective.
Many years
later, Aquinus develops his own theory of conversion by the sword. Although
using force to accomplish religious goals was popular in his time period,
Aquinus uses Agustine’s ideas as a guideline for a more restricted
approach. Aquinus holds that violence on
behalf of religion is acceptable , however only under specific circumstances.
He states that any unbeliever who seeks to “hinder the faith…by their open
persecutions”[3] is
the justified target of a Holy War. From this, we draw that a holy war is
acceptable in defending ones religion from attack. Aquinus continues that non-believers (who are presenting no harm to the faith or
the faithfull) “…(should) by no means be compelled to the faith (against their
will)…because to believe depends on the will” [4].
Here, Aquinus clearly states that conversion by the sword is neither justified,
nor effective.
Interestingly,
Agustine and Aquinus agree on one use of force for religion, and it’s not aimed
at their religious foes. Both philosophers agree force is an acceptable, and
downright necessary, manner of bringing their lost followers back into the
fold. First Agustine states, “Why…should
not the Church use force in compelling her lost sons to return, if the sons
compelled others to their destruction?”[5] He is followed by Aquinus’ statement,
“…there are unbelivers who at some time have accepted the faith, and professed
it, such as heratics and apostates: such should be submitted even to bodily
compulsion, that they may fulfill what they have promised, and hold what they,
at one time, received”. [6] Here, both philosophers show they are
comfortable using force against their own baptized followers (who have
strayed). My personal opinion is that Agustine developed this belief in
response to the rebellious Donnatists. He may have thought that by forcing
individual heretics back to the Church, one might prevent fractional groups
from forming and creating larger conflict and violence. Likely, Aquinus witnessed the effectiveness
of this approach and absorbed it from his historical time period.
[1]
Augustine. On True Religion, bk. XVI,
chap. 31
[2]
Agustine. Letter 185, To Boniface
[3]
Aquinus, Article 8: Whether Unbelivers
Ought To Be Compelled To The Faith?
[4]
Aquinus, Article 8: Whether Unbelivers
Ought To Be Compelled To The Faith?
[5]
Agustine. Letter 185, To Boniface
[6]
Aquinus, Article 8: Whether Unbelivers
Ought To Be Compelled To The Faith?
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