The Existence of God: Conclusion

The existence of God remains a matter of faith. For that reason, it’s difficult to "prove" God to someone who does not believe.

Aquinas and Anselm recognized that. In the articles above, and in the writings of the two great saints, there is no mention as to exactly what God is. In fact, Aquinas begins his very discussion of God by saying that we cannot know God’s essence. We can merely guess.

Our knowledge of God comes from what we can know for sure. We know things exist; we know people act in good and bad ways; we know joy and pain. We also know that all things are caused by something else, something that came before it.

In truth, what the two saints have done is taken what we know and explained what must be so. If things are caused by something else, there must be something that came first. If humans act for a good, there must be some end toward which all actions tend. If things exist, there must be something that defines existence.

Even the most die-hard atheist would have to agree with many of the points made by Aquinas and Anselm. In fact, I personally have argued with an atheist about this point. When I brought up the uncaused cause, he was stumped. He recognized that there is something that was first. Calling that uncaused cause God is a matter of definition.

Truly, the saints have not proven God’s existence, they have defined it. Aquinas and Anselm draw conclusions through reason – the uncaused cause, the Form of goodness – and explained "That’s what we mean when we say God."

These five short articles are intended only to serve as a beginning to this issue. I will not credit myself by saying I have made a major breakthrough. I merely hope that these articles might have helped someone understand.

Chris Mosmeyer
June 3, 1998