I don't often borrow from other blogs, but this one is just too good to pass up, at least for those of us who are familiar with St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologiae. Dr. Kimberly Hope Belcher, a professor at St. John's University in Collegeville, MN, posted this on the Pray Tell Blog this week. I don't tweet, but if you do, check out the Summa!
Tweeting the Summa Theologiae?
Who would do that? [Oh, yes, I would.]
Obj 1: Twitter is inappropriate for any serious endeavor. The ST is a serious endeavor. Therefore it should not be tweeted.
Obj 2: 140 characters is not enough to get any real theology done.
Obj 3: People on Twitter are unlikely to appreciate the substance and depth of Thomas Aquinas’ great work.
Contra: “The Master of Catholic Truth ought not only to teach the proficient, but also to instruct beginners” (ST Prologue). Therefore http://twitter.com/summatheologiae.
Resp: I think it’s an interesting way to provide a taste of the ST to get people interested in the larger work. It has the potential to benefit two — no, three! — kinds of readers. First, those who are interested in the thought of Thomas Aquinas but are not sure what part of the work they would be most interested in reading. Second, those who read a part of the ST without its context but would like a larger picture of the work. Third, those who have no interest in the ST itself but are willing to slowly cruise through this greatly abridged version. Our lives will be enriched, I hope. (And if not, it was only 140 characters.)
Ad 1: Twitter is not just for frivolous pursuits, and although theology is a serious endeavor, it is one that can be relevant to every new medium of communication. [Also see ad 2.]
Ad 2: We’ll just have to see about that.
Ad 3: If you jump on and follow, that won’t be a concern anymore, will it? http://twitter.com/summatheologiae
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