Monday, July 19, 2010

Logically Speaking...

The quote by Anselm which is considered the definitive Ontological proof in the being (not the existence) of God is beyond compare.  I say this, because it is logical proof, that has never successfully been challenged since created in the 11th Century AD.  All those who have tried to attack, or disprove Anselm's proof have had to change it to attempt to prove their points.  So what? You may ask.  Well, I follow Anselm's thoughts, and beliefs  that echo what the Bible says:  The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."  Give me an example, some may say, so here goes:

Anselm stated: "That than which nothing greater may be conceived must be, and is.

Some of the many challenges to this statement include:
  • If God exists, He could also not exist.  (changes being, to existence)
    • the error here, logically is the difference between existence and being.  Now I did not set the rules for this, but the difference is that things with existence, can also lose or not have existence.  For example a pie can exist, but as soon as it is consumed, it loses existence.  Something with being, has life that although it may change, cannot cease to have life.  For example, humans have being.  Once created, they never cease to have life.  We may live forever with God in heaven, or live forever without God in hell.
  • If God can be conceived to exist, He can also be conceived to not exist.  (again the change, but also changes the argument)
    • For if the being can be conceived to not be, it is obviously not God.  For there is nothing greater than a being that not only can be conceived to be, but can not be conceived to not be. Further, God must be conceived to be, by the very definition of this logic.  For the progression of this concept, consider the following:
      • I can conceive of an apple.
      • I can conceive of the tree which grew the apple.
      • I can conceive of the planet which enables the tree to grow.
      • I can conceive of the solar system which contains the planet.
      • I can conceive of the galaxy in which the solar system is located.
      • I can conceive of the universe in which the galaxy is located.
      • I can conceive of a being which once did not have being, but has being now, and created the universe.
      • I can conceive of a being which always had being, has being now, but someday may not have being, which created the universe.
      • I can conceive of a being which always had being, has being now, and always will have being.
      • I can conceive of a being which always had being, has being now, and always will have being, created the universe, but did not care about it once it was created.
      • I can conceive of a being which always had being, has being now, and always will have being, created the universe, but continued to care for it.
      • I can conceive of a being which always had being, has being now, and always will have being, created the universe, and added life to it, but did not give that creation free will.
      • I can conceive of a being which always had being, has being now, and always will have being, created the universe, and gave the creation free will.
      • I can conceive of a being which always had being, has being now, and always will have being, created the universe, and once the creation thumbed its nose at him, destroyed that creation.
      • I can conceive of a being which always had being, has being now, and always will have being, created the universe, and despite the creation thumbing its nose at him, said, I still love you.
      • etc... 
So anyway you get the idea.  The ultimate end of this argument is that the God of the universe, not only still cares for His creation, but He paid the ultimate price, sending His own perfect son (son only because he was born, after setting aside His divine attributes, to become human) to die (the penalty for sin) even tho' He (Jesus) was sinless, to repair the damage done to the relationship humanity was created to have with God, and make it possible for all those who would come to Him to enjoy this restored relationship for all eternity.  The mind boggling thing about all this is that although the God of the universe did this and it is only required that we put our faith in Him to be saved, people still thumb their noses at Him, and say "No thanks!"

Learn more about Anselms argument at: http://www.princeton.edu/~grosen/puc/phi203/ontological.html