(1033-1109) Anselm was born to Italian nobility and wanted to enter religious life at 15. His father, Gondulf, would not let him, so Anselm embraced a worldly lifestyle for a few years. After his mother died, he went to France and became a Benedictine monk. He reluctantly accepted the position of Archbishop of Canterbury, England, when he was 59. Anselm fought for independence of the Church from the English crown and was exiled a couple of times for his efforts. He opposed slavery, supported celibate clergy, advised popes, and was a great philosopher and theologian who helped usher in the era of Scholasticism. Anselm’s ontological argument for the existence of God is still one of the strongest rational arguments in defense of God’s existence.
Many problems with what people mean by “God” stem from weak concepts and definitions. This is foundational. How have you grown in your understanding of your Higher Power?
“For I do not seek to understand in order to believe, but I believe in order to understand. For I believe this: unless I believe, I will not understand” (Saint Anselm).
Reflection by Brad Farmer