Abstract

In this book, Judith Barad offers a fresh treatment of St. Thomas Aquinas' account of faith by emphasizing his distinction between assent and consent. The distinction entails that although intellectual assent is a necessary condition of faith, the consent of the will, issuing in moral activity, is required for faith's completion. Through her analysis of Aquinas' distinction, Barad maintains not only that the traditional characterization of Aquinas as an intellectualist in matters of faith is false, but that Aquinas can shed light on the difference between religious hypocrisy and devotion.