Read on Twitter
One of the many ways theologians should learn from Thomas Aquinas is how he often states his opponents’ views in the strongest light before disagreeing with them. That’s how you not only earn people’s ear, but also show that you belong at the table.
This practice is very inimical to “dunking,” I’m afraid. Because the longer you sit with a substantive argument, the easier it is to read charitably. And so the real critiques are always softer than you’d guess. The exceptions to this are few, when engaging thoughtful people.
There are, of course, people who hold very poorly conceived and mistaken views. Aquinas mentioned at least one in his Summa theologiae (poor David of Dinant). But precisely for this reason, those views don’t merit much attention.
All that to say, Aquinas knew that theology ends in Beauty. Even when it must be polemical, theology is most itself when displaying this beauty towards others, coming alongside them and pointing to the Lord who is greater than us all.
