How did new knowledge, influenced by Aristotle and other Greek thinkers, challenge Christian scholars?

 New knowledge influenced by Aristotle and other Greek thinkers posed significant challenges to Christian scholars during the Middle Ages, particularly between the 12th and 17th centuries. This period is characterized by a revival of interests in the works of ancient Greek philosophers, a movement that became known as the Renaissance of the 12th century.

Here's how the challenge unfolded:

1. Rationalism Over Mysticism: Aristotle's works strongly emphasized rationalism and the use of reason to understand the natural world. This was at odds with the mystical and spiritual explanations for the phenomena of nature that were prevalent among the teachings of the Church.

2. Natural Philosophy: Aristotle’s natural philosophy conveyed a universe explained by natural causes and laws, which could be understood through observation and reasoning. This contradicted the theological view that supernatural causes and divine intervention were responsible for the operation of the world.

3. The Question of Authority: The introduction of Aristotle’s and other Greek thinkers’ works brought about a conflict of authorities. Church teachings were considered the ultimate truth, but now scholars were faced with credible ancient authorities who sometimes provided different explanations.

4. Ethical and Theological Concerns: Aristotle’s ethics and ideas about governance did not always align with Christian doctrine. For example, his idea of the "prime mover" – an impersonal force than a personal God – and his views on the eternity of the world challenged the Christian concept of creation.

5. The Need for Reconciliation: Christian scholars like Thomas Aquinas took on the task of reconciling Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology. Aquinas developed the concept of natural law, which posited that the world operates according to rules set by a divine creator. He also worked to argue that reason and faith are complementary rather than opposed.

6. Universities and Curriculum Development: The establishment of medieval universities and the inclusion of Aristotelian texts in their curricula fostered a culture of inquiry that led scholars to question the compatibility of reason and faith.

The challenges were tackled through the development of Scholasticism, which sought to reconcile faith with reason and became the predominant method of learning in medieval European universities.