From: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!faustus Newsgroups: net.misc Title: Religous Matters Article-I.D.: ucbvax.629 Posted: Wed Jan 19 00:13:04 1983 Received: Fri Jan 21 03:55:29 1983 While we're on the subject of religous beliefs, how about the following proof for the existence of God? It was originally formulated by St. Amselm of the 11th century (I think) and later used by Descartes, among others. First, we will define God as that entity which is the most perfect in all respects possible. We further assume that to exist is more perfect than not to exist: this may be disputed by some, but it is not an unreasonable postulate. Therefore, by definition God exists, as if he is to be perfect in all ways he must be perfect in the degree of his existence (i.e. he must have it). To put it another way, if something we call God does not exist, then by our reasoning this is not God we are talking about, but something less perfect. Therefore, again God must exist. What do you think of this? -Wayne Christopher faustus@berkeley decvax!ucbvax!faustus