Life's Ultimate Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy by Zondervan

Author:Zondervan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Politics & Social Sciences, Reference, Philosophy, Theology, Religious Studies, Religious Studies & Reference, History & Surveys, Religion & Spirituality, Christian Books & Bibles
ISBN: 0310223644
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2010-06-19T00:00:00+00:00

Possible Worlds and Perfect Being Theology

Many contemporary religious thinkers believe there is another profitable line of thinking made possible by Anselm’s definition of God. This second line of thinking explores ways in which Anselm’s understanding of God as the most perfect being opens up possibilities for thinking about God’s nature. While the Bible has much to say about God’s nature, many have been skeptical about how successful people can be in reaching conclusions about God’s nature via reasoning that is independent of special revelation. However, Anselm’s approach seems promising.

Imagine a candidate for God that lacks such specific attributes of God as omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, love, holiness, justice, or any other property of God known through special revelation. Could any being lacking any one of these properties possibly qualify as that Being than which a greater cannot be conceived? If we have two candidates for the title of God, and one is morally perfect while the other is lacking in holiness, can the second candidate qualify as that being than which a greater cannot be conceived? Ask the same question with respect to love, perfect knowledge, and justice.

Think now of someone with little or no prior contact with special revelation. Is it possible that such a person, armed with Anselm’s approach to God’s nature, could arrive at a fairly complete listing of the properties of the biblical God? Explore this with respect to the contrast between a personal God and a pantheistic deity. Which of these two is more perfect, greater than the other? I’m not sure how far I wish to push this. It does strike me as an interesting way to think about God’s nature.

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