What are the ideas of Aristotle, St. Augustine, or Aquinas about religion influencing politics?
“A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side. – Aristotle, Politics. “Aristotle was certainly not the only ancient philosopher to express some cynicism regarding the relationship between politics and religion.” http://atheism.about.com/od/weeklyquotes… http://library.thinkquest.org/18775/aris… “Aristotle’s God was clearly not a divinity to be worshipped. Apart from serving as the ultimate source of motion, God, ignorant of the world’s existence, could play no meaningful role in Aristotle’s natural philosophy.” Natural philosophy influenced Aquinas who influenced the Renaissance and the
