Exploring the Greatest Conceivable Being and Apologetics of Great-Making Properties

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Delve into the concept of the Greatest Conceivable Being, as defined by Anselm, and its relevance in Christian theology, philosophy, and apologetics. Discover the arguments for God's existence based on great-making properties and transcendence over gods, along with responses to the "God of the gaps" argument.

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My God is so Big! The apologetics of great-making properties Travis Dickinson

Anselms Ontological Argument Anselm defined God as a being than which no greater can be conceived. 1. God, by definition, is the Greatest Conceivable Being. The GCB must have all great-making properties. 2. Existence is a great-making property. 3. Thus, God exists.

The Greatest Conceivable Being God, by definition, is the Greatest Conceivable Being. This concept of God is implicit in many of our Christian theological pursuits. o Philosophy, theology, Bible interpretation apologetics?

The Greatest Conceivable Being Many of you already assume God as the GCB. oUnderstanding the supreme greatness of God often guides your interpretation of Scripture. The only God worthy of worship is God not gods. oThe only God worth defending is God not gods

God not god God of the gaps argument o We used to not know how to explain lightning. Pre-science: Zeus did it Now we know lightning is just an electrostatic discharge in the atmosphere. o Likewise, Christians just plug God into the gap of our knowledge about the universe.

God not god Response: This explanation goes some way to explain away Zeus s role with lightning. It does precisely nothing to explain away God. o Understanding how this process works does not provide a causal explanation for the process itself. o In fact, this explanation points to the existence of God.

God not god God vs. god. ogods are typically within the universe as they have needs. God is transcendent and exists a se. God is the very ground of the universe and holds it all into being at every moment. ogods may be very powerful beings but they are nonetheless finite in all respects. God has every perfection and is maximal in all great-making properties.

God not god Through science, we can know whether or not there are gods. However, science can never put God out of a job. o God as the GCB is the ground of science.

The Greatest Conceivable Being All of the classical arguments for God s existence ultimately point to the GCB. oWe get a picture of God as the necessary first cause of all. He is supremely powerful and intelligent and the ground of all being.

The Greatest Conceivable Being Most objections aim at God as the GCB. o The problem of evil is a problem precisely because God is an all powerful and maximally good being. o The problem of divine hiddenness only works if God is morally perfect and able to make himself more obvious. o The moral objections to the OT concept of God attempts to show God is not the GCB.

The Greatest Conceivable Being The Euthyphro dilemma is a problem only for the GCB. oIs action A good because God commands A or does God command A because A is good? oEither God is the GCB but morality is arbitrary or morality is fixed but God is not the GCB.

Perfect Being Apologetics The GCB approach o We get a target by which we can be guided in the evaluation of competing concepts and objections. The problem of evil often presupposes how, if God exists, the world should be. o God should provide a world of ease and sensual delight. o God owes us something in this life. o But this is not the GCB.

Perfect Being Apologetics There s something greater God is redeeming a world of free and fallen creatures for his glory. o But on this conception, we d expect pain and suffering. It may not be the world you and I would create. o Bruce Almighty o Chesterton: Truth is stranger than fiction because we create fiction to suit our fancy.

Perfect Being Apologetics Mormon conception of God o Is this the GCB?? o Is it better to be the creator/sustainer of the universe or not? Is it better to be responsible for the design and fine tuning of the cosmos or not? Is it better to be the ground of all moral facts or not? o Sounds more like god than God.

Perfect Being Apologetics Islamic conception oIs this the GCB? oAllah is not the ground of moral facts. Moral argument? Euthyphro? oAllah does not eternally stand in perfect relationships (i.e., Allah is not a Trinity).

Perfect Being Apologetics Christian conception? o I would argue that Christian pictures God as maximally perfect (i.e., the GCB). How could God be both merciful and just? o Throughout Scripture, there are many ways in which God s justice is balanced with his mercy. o However, it is in the gospel that these truly cohere.

Perfect Being Apologetics On the cross, God s wrath and justice is expressed fully and perfectly since it is only the spotless lamb of God that could die once for all. But this is a substitutionary atonement for you and me. This is the ultimate act of both justice and mercy! My God is so great!