The Ill Mind of Aquinas
A response to Hopsin
Hopsin’s “Ill Mind of Hopsin 7” was one of my favorite songs in college and played a significant role in my decision to leave Christianity in my early 20s. The song resonates deeply with the frustrations and struggles that many believers experience in their faith journey, expressed in a blunt and raw style that I found compelling.
Recently, this song resurfaced on my Spotify playlist, bringing back memories of the intense doubts and questions I grappled with when scrutinizing my faith and the Scriptures. However, unlike during my college years, I now recognize that these questions have not been left unanswered.
This led me to wonder: how might the great Doctor of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas, respond to the challenges and doubts raised in Hopsin’s lyrics?
1. Questioning God's Existence and the Nature of Truth
Hopsin expresses deep skepticism about God's existence, especially due to the lack of empirical proof.
Who the fuck are You? You never showed the proof
He also highlights the multiplicity of religions and their conflicting claims, which causes confusion about which, if any, are true.
There's way too many different religions with vivid descriptions
Begging all fucking men and women to listen
Aquinas' Response:
Aquinas would begin by appealing to reason and natural theology, suggesting that while God does not physically manifest in ways humans might demand, His existence can be known through the effects He has on creation. Aquinas' Five Ways provide logical arguments for God's existence, such as the argument from motion, everything in motion is set in motion by something else, leading to the necessity of an Unmoved Mover, and the argument from causality, every effect has a cause, leading back to a First Cause.
Aquinas would argue that the universe's order, beauty, and purpose are signs pointing toward an intelligent Creator. For example, Hopsin himself says, "I look at the Earth and Sun and I can tell a genius man designed it." This observation aligns with Aquinas' teleological argument, which sees purpose and design in the natural world as evidence of a divine Designer.
2. Struggles with Faith and Doubt
Hopsin expresses disillusionment with Christianity, feeling betrayed or let down.
Now I'm avoiding questions like a scared dog with his tail down
He also struggles with understanding why God does not speak to him directly, like Adam and Eve in the biblical narrative.
I hate the fact that I have to believe
You haven't been chatting with me like you did Adam and Eve
And I ain't seen no fucking talking snake unravel from trees
With an apple to eat, that shit never happens to me
Aquinas' Response:
Aquinas would empathize with this struggle, recognizing that doubt and questioning are natural parts of the human journey toward understanding God. He would note that faith, while rooted in reason, also requires a relationship with God that goes beyond mere intellectual assent.
Aquinas taught that faith is both a gift from God and an act of the will, supported by grace. God does not usually manifest in obvious ways to preserve human free will, allowing people to come to Him freely rather than being coerced by undeniable proof.
The seeming silence of God is not an indication of His absence but rather a call to deeper faith. God reveals Himself in more subtle ways, through the sacraments, the Church, the Scriptures, and in the lives of believers.
3. Moral Struggles and Sin
Hopsin speaks about his moral confusion and feelings of guilt, expressing frustration over what he sees as impossible standards of behavior imposed by religion.
I can't even beat my dick without getting convicted
He feels trapped by the rules of Christianity and questions whether they are necessary or meaningful.
Aquinas' Response:
Aquinas would first clarify that the moral law, as given by God, is designed for human flourishing and the ultimate happiness of the soul.
The commandments and teachings of the Church are not arbitrary rules but are grounded in natural law, which reflects the order God has written into the universe and human nature. For example, sexual morality is not merely a set of restrictions but is aimed at the proper use of human sexuality in accordance with its natural ends: procreation and the mutual love of spouses.
Aquinas would argue that the feelings of guilt or conviction Hopsin experiences are not meant to condemn but to guide. They serve as a moral compass, indicating when a person is moving away from their true good.
God provides grace to help humans live according to His will, which ultimately leads to deeper fulfillment and peace.
4. Demand for Proof and Tangible Evidence
Hopsin demands tangible proof of God's existence.
Show yourself and then boom it's done
Every rumor's gone, I no longer doubt this shit, you're the One
He wants direct, undeniable evidence, like that of a "talking snake" or a clear manifestation of God's presence.
Aquinas' Response:
Aquinas would counter that while God has provided sufficient evidence of His existence through creation and reason, the demand for miraculous signs or proof may misunderstand the nature of faith.
Faith is "the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Miracles, while they do occur, are not the primary basis of faith, as they can never compel belief against the will. God desires a relationship built on love and trust, not one driven by fear or compulsion.
Moreover, Aquinas would assert that the Incarnation of Christ is the ultimate manifestation of God's presence. In Jesus, God became man, dwelt among us, and revealed the fullness of divine truth.
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are historical events attested by witnesses and are central to Christian belief.
5. Confusion About the Afterlife and Purpose
Is heaven real? Is it fake? Is it really how I fantasize it?
Hopsin struggles with the concept of the afterlife and feels that living for an uncertain afterlife is unreasonable.
I'll be damned if I put my own pleasure aside for an afterlife that isn't even guaranteed
Aquinas' Response:
Aquinas would explain that the purpose of human life is to know, love, and serve God, which leads to eternal happiness in the beatific vision — seeing God "face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12). Heaven is not just a reward for good behavior but the fulfillment of the deepest human longing for truth, beauty, and love.
Living a moral life is not merely about avoiding punishment in hell or seeking reward in heaven; it is about aligning oneself with the divine order, which brings true peace and joy, even in this life. The afterlife is the natural extension of this relationship with God.
Faith, therefore, is both a belief in things unseen and a trust that living according to God's will brings about the greatest good.
Conclusion
St. Thomas Aquinas would recognize in Hopsin a sincere search for truth and meaning. He would invite him to see that faith and reason are not opposed but complementary.
While the human mind cannot grasp the entirety of God's mystery, it can find sufficient reasons for belief through both the natural world and divine revelation.
Aquinas would encourage Hopsin to continue seeking, with the assurance that God is near to those who earnestly seek Him: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7).