Text: Page 142

Thomism has had a lasting impact of understanding the connection between reason and spirituality. Thomism attempted to understand the impact of the nonphysical world on human life, often called the unconscious by some and the spiritual world by others. There have been periods in history when neo-Thomism reemerged, most recently at the end of the twentieth century with such thinkers as Michel Foucault and Jacques Lacan.

The unintended consequences of Thomism were that reason and faith, philosophy, and theology could be studied separately, which meant the pursuit of knowledge could occur without faith. This would symbolically open a door that could never be closed again, leading to the Renaissance and the demise of total Church control and authority over knowledge and science.