Theology Evolved?

In the entrance to the second millennium one of the greatest questions posed to the Body of Christ, was the very existence of God. Science was becoming less blasphemous and the thought of proving God's existence became intriguing. One of the early theologians Anselm of Canterbury wrote a self-reflection on his own faith, examining his belief in God's existence. In this he came to relate that, "the reality of God, is greater than the idea of God," because as he put it God is, "that which no greater thing can be thought." That is to say since the concept of God is already great, and because no one can think of anything which is greater than God to oppose God, that since the concept exists, then the reality must exist. It is a confusing thought I know, but chew on it.

One man did chew on this, a Benedictine Monk named Gaunilo. His reply was somewhat critical of Anselm as he believed Anselm to be forming an argument rather than a reflection, because Anselm was not arguing. Gaunilo felt that the concept Anselm was pursuing was rather ineffective because as he posed it, there could be a "lost island" which no man has found, and no man can think of a greater one, and since there was nothing to disprove it, this island must exist. However I felt that Gaunilo was off the track on this, because he was pursuing a tangible, physical, and actually if one had the time and resources they could map the entire ocean and actually find or not find this island. Whereas there is no way for any man to ever be able to have the time or resources to prove or disprove God's existence in any way shape or form. So good try, but no cigar.

One of the most practical minded theologians was Thomas Aquinas, he put his existence in God as something of an ultimate end or beginning of all things. Following a sequence of cause and effect relationship all things must have a cause, except God, for he is the Ultimate Cause, because there is nothing that could bring the reality of God into effect. He based this off a few factors. The very existence of Humanity as an effect of God's desire to be worshiped since we have offered nothing to the furthering of the planet (probably more to degrade it). Or perhaps how this existing humanity have functions that go beyong their need to survive. Honor, Goodness, Honesty, Trust, all these work against the survival instinct. Or even how humanity as this great exception to the world even goes so far as to work towards common goals, once again beyond necessity, perhaps a sign of Intelligent Design in our very lives. All these non-essentials have to be something of a point made, to show the existence of God.

So God's existence by concept alone has been tested and challenged, and God's existence by proof as well tested. Personally, I love both Anselm and Aquinas for what they offer, that of faith and of thought.

What do you think?