Comparison of St. Thomas Aquinas to Machiavelli

Paper Summary:

This paper details the different attitudes of these scholars' views on God and religion. St. Thomas Aquinas and Machiavelli represent the two extremes of the understanding of reason and faith. Machiavelli exhibits the influence of the Renaissance on his conception of God and faith in God. The existence of God is unquestionable and need not be proven. Aquinas also believes that the existence is self-evident, but as a Christian scholar Aquinas is obligated to develop a proof for the existence of God.

From the Paper:

"Machiavelli mentions God in various passages of his writing, but God never represents the central theme of any of his writings. Typical of Machiavelli he manages to incorporate the gods of pagan religions into his writing and his theories. God's focus was justice and mercy. As a Christian, Machiavelli naturally mentions the importance of Jesus Christ. As with other people of the time, Machiavelli prayed to God when difficulties arose with the possibility that his prayers would be answered."

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