THE THOMISTIC
INSTITUTE AT
VANDERBILT
By Blake Tamez
At Vanderbilt University, the mission of our
University Catholic (UCat) campus ministry
contends with both an aggressive secularism
and a deep apathy towards the search for
truth. This spring, God’s providential aid came
through our partnership with the Thomistic
Institute of the PFIC and its distinguished
speakers. Two engaging lectures were given
on our campus, both of which drew large
crowds of students, Catholic and non-
Catholic, from Vanderbilt, Belmont University,
and Aquinas College.
The first was a presentation by Dr. William
E. Carroll of Oxford University titled “The
Challenges of Evolution and the Metaphysics of
Creation” in which Dr. Carroll showed us how
seeming contradictions between evolutionary
theory and belief in a Divine Creator can be
reconciled by the metaphysics of creation
as developed by St. Thomas Aquinas. Our
second speaker was Professor Thomas Hibbs
of Baylor University whose presentation
titled “How to Be Happy: Virtue and the Path
to Human Happiness” was a challenging
reflection on conceptions of happiness and
the integral place of mercy in the life of the
virtuous person. Both events were marked by
a noticeable sense of joy and were followed by
lively conversations between students and our
guest speakers.
These events displayed the riches of our
Catholic intellectual tradition and opened
up new horizons for many students who
had not considered the interdependence of
faith and reason. As a recent graduate, I am
encouraged by knowing that the thought of
St. Thomas Aquinas will continue to have a
forum on Vanderbilt’s campus. The students
and administration of UCat are grateful for
the indispensable and excellent ministry of
the Thomistic Institute. They look forward to
facilitating further opportunities for students
to encounter Jesus Christ and His Church
through more events in the fall.
Vanderbilt students attending the Thomistic
Institute lecture “The Challenges of
Evolution and the Metaphysics of Creation,”
by Dr. William E. Carroll
“As a recent graduate, I am encouraged by knowing
that the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas will continue 5
to have a forum on Vanderbilt’s campus.”