Introduction
The modern world is not as modern as we think. Though technology and science have advanced, the moral and spiritual struggles of humanity remain remarkably unchanged. If Thomas Aquinas, the 13th-century Catholic theologian and philosopher, were to analyze the cultural landscape of the United States in 2025, he would likely conclude that society is trapped in an ancient cycle of temptation and sin, just as it has been throughout history.
Aquinas’ teachings on the Three Temptations of Christ and the Seven Deadly Sins provide a striking framework for understanding the cultural, political, and moral dilemmas facing America today. His evaluation would highlight how history repeats itself, not because we lack knowledge, but because we fail to learn from past mistakes.
Who Was Thomas Aquinas?
Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) was a Dominican friar, theologian, and philosopher whose work remains foundational in both Christian thought and Western philosophy. He is most famous for:
• Summa Theologica – A vast theological system that harmonizes faith and reason.
• Summa Contra Gentiles – A defense of Christianity aimed at non-believers.
• Commentaries on Aristotle – Bridging classical Greek philosophy with Christian theology.
Aquinas believed that truth is one, meaning that both faith and reason come from God and must ultimately agree. His philosophy was heavily influenced by Aristotle, whom he “baptized” into Christian thought, and his work shaped Catholic doctrine, natural law theory, and moral philosophy for centuries.
Aquinas’ Three Temptations and the U.S. in 2025
Aquinas followed the Three Temptations of Christ (Matthew 4:1-11) as a model for understanding human desires. Each temptation reflects a fundamental struggle that societies must confront.
1. The Temptation of Pleasure: Hedonism and Moral Decay
• Biblical Context: Satan tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread, representing the desire for bodily pleasure and comfort.
• Aquinas’ Analysis: He viewed this as the temptation of the flesh, encompassing lust, gluttony, and excessive comfort-seeking.
2025 America
The obsession with pleasure—whether through consumerism, entertainment, addiction, or hyper-sexualization—dominates American culture. Aquinas would likely see:
• The normalization of excess: From obesity rates to drug dependency, Americans prioritize pleasure over discipline and virtue.
• The breakdown of traditional values: The over-sexualization of media and the destruction of marriage and family structure.
• The rise of escapism: Video games, social media, and AI-driven distractions keep people numbed to reality rather than engaging in moral reflection.
Aquinas would conclude that America’s overindulgence is not new—the fall of Rome, fueled by decadence, proves that nations crumble when pleasure is prioritized over duty.
2. The Temptation of Power: Political Corruption and Tyranny
• Biblical Context: Satan offers Jesus control over all the kingdoms of the world if He bows down in worship. This represents the lust for power and control.
• Aquinas’ Analysis: He warned that seeking power for its own sake leads to corruption, tyranny, and destruction.
2025 America
Power is perhaps the most dangerous temptation in U.S. politics, as both the Left and Right battle for dominance rather than truth. Aquinas would observe:
• Government overreach: The erosion of personal liberties, mass surveillance, and bureaucratic control over citizens’ lives.
• Media manipulation: Big Tech and corporate media shaping reality rather than reporting facts.
• Moral relativism in law: The legal system favoring political interests rather than objective justice.
Aquinas would likely compare modern America to fallen empires, where the pursuit of power led to political corruption, internal division, and collapse.
3. The Temptation of Pride: Rebellion Against Truth
• Biblical Context: Satan challenges Jesus to throw Himself from the temple, testing whether God would save Him. This symbolizes the temptation to act out of arrogance and self-importance.
• Aquinas’ Analysis: He saw pride as the root of all sin, as it leads individuals to reject God, morality, and objective truth in favor of self-rule.
2025 America
Modern culture is defined by radical individualism and the worship of self:
• The rejection of God and absolute truth: Society prioritizes subjective feelings over objective reality.
• Identity as self-created: People define themselves outside of moral order, leading to confusion and division.
• The rise of narcissism: Social media encourages vanity, virtue signaling, and constant self-promotion.
Aquinas would likely argue that pride is leading America toward self-destruction, as it has done for civilizations before.
The Seven Deadly Sins and Cultural Collapse
Aquinas also categorized sin into seven deadly vices. How do they manifest in modern America?
1. Pride – The belief that man is his own god, rejecting natural law and morality.
2. Greed – Corporate and political corruption, financial exploitation, and materialism.
3. Lust – The sexualization of culture, breakdown of marriage, and rise of pornography.
4. Envy – The culture of resentment and entitlement, fueling class warfare and identity politics.
5. Gluttony – Overconsumption of food, media, and indulgence in unhealthy lifestyles.
6. Wrath – Political rage, cancel culture, and mass polarization.
7. Sloth – Declining work ethic, government dependency, and the pursuit of comfort over responsibility.
Aquinas would argue that these sins are not unique to America—they have destroyed societies before, and without repentance, they will do so again.
Is There a Way Back? Aquinas’ Path to Renewal
Aquinas would not despair over America’s condition but would insist on a moral and spiritual renewal based on:
• Return to Virtue – Self-control, discipline, and personal responsibility.
• Truth over Relativism – Upholding objective morality rather than subjective opinions.
• Justice over Power – Ruling based on truth and reason, not political expediency.
• Faith in God – Recognizing that society cannot thrive without acknowledging a moral authority above itself.
Will America listen? Or will it continue down the same path as Rome, Greece, and Babylon?
Conclusion: History Repeats Because We Do Not Learn
Aquinas’ evaluation of 2025 America would not be new—it would be the same warning given to past civilizations before their decline. Humanity repeats history because it refuses to learn.
The temptations of pleasure, power, and pride are eternal. But so is the path to renewal. Whether America heeds that warning determines its future.
Would we listen to Aquinas if he were here today? Or would we dismiss him, as so many dismissed the prophets of old?
If you enjoyed this article, then please REPOST or SHARE with others; encourage them to follow AFNN. If you’d like to become a citizen contributor for AFNN, contact us at managingeditor@afnn.us Help keep us ad-free by donating here.
Substack: American Free News Network Substack
Truth Social: @AFNN_USA
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/afnnusa
Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/2_-GAzcXmIRjODNh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfnnUsa
GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/AFNN_USA
CloutHub: @AFNN_USA
Try St. Augustine next….
St. Aquinas is the master of the mind, while St. Augustine the guide to the heart.
In Faith and Reason, St. John Paul II got the sainted Doctor of the Church perfectly: “Saint Thomas Aquinas is an authentic model for all who seek the truth. In his thinking, the demands of reason and the power of faith found the most elevated synthesis ever attained by human thought, for he could defend the radical newness introduced by Revelation without ever demeaning the venture proper to reason.”