Discussion Questions for Lesson 13
Use these questions for group interaction or as essay prompts/homework.
Mid-Lesson Questions:
- Anselm believed that God created us as rational creatures and we should unite our reasoning with our faith to make new discoveries. He therefore thought faith and reason were not opposed to one another. As the Christian west embraced this idea, they not only explored God’s creation more fully, they sought to find out the function and purpose of things. Do you think these ideas helped propel or stifle scientific advancement in the coming centuries? Why or why not?
- Do you think Anselm’s Ontological Argument makes sense?
- Anselm’s Ontological argument rests on the fact that the very idea of God means he is the greatest being that could ever exist. Think about any other god or being across any faith who is not greatest. Would a god who has a weakness or a god who has an equal truly be worthy of worship?
After-Lesson Questions:
- Anselm’s Satisfaction View, like his views on the incarnation and the Ontological Argument show a deep level of thinking and intelligence. Yet, many people today believe the Medieval period was one of ignorance and blindly following whatever the Church taught. Do you think because people like Anselm put their brain power to work in thinking about theology rather than nature, it means they were dumber than we are today?
- Christianity saw the scriptures as the authoritative source to properly learn about God and our relation to him. Because of this, teaching literacy to both men and women was considered essential. This also allowed people to read other texts and draw from a wide range of human wisdom. It also planted the seeds of the modern university. What impact do you think all d\education had for European societies as compared to other cultures, like India or the Islamic cultures?
