Does God Exist?

the perfect answer (literally)

There are lots of arguments for the existence of God that come from the physical world or our experiences—observation of design, beauty, order, miracles, and even the life of Jesus on earth.

But putting those aside for the minute, I’d like to offer up some thoughts from an old dead guy—Anselm of Canterbury— and his ontological argument that the greatest conceivable being, by definition, cannot simply exist in our minds. A being that could only exist as an idea would not be perfect.

But can perfection exist only in the imagination?

For Anselm, the answer is no. Perfection, by nature, demands more than mental conception—it must be realized. If a being is truly the greatest imaginable, then it cannot be confined to thought alone; it must exist.

A being who only exists in our minds is not the greatest being imaginable. To be a truly perfect being, said being must truly exist in reality. Otherwise, it’s just a knock-off version of the greatest being imaginable.

Existence, when you think about it like this, is a vital and irreplaceable part of perfection.

To experience the real presence of something is to encounter its true greatness.

A perfect idea without reality is just a pipe dream—nice to think about, but it doesn’t feed you, protect you, or show up when it counts.

A “perfect meal” that is only imagined is less perfect than one that is experienced in reality. A meal realized in its sensory fullness—as you see, smell, and taste it— is much better than one you just imagine would be good.

For God to be truly perfect, as we say that He is, He must exist, not just as an abstract concept in our minds but in the reality of our world.

So His perfection requires His existence. No existence, no perfection.

For the believer, His existence is not abstract—we bump into it, sometimes even when we least want to, and we’re never the same afterward.

Though God's perfection means He is beyond our full understanding (transcendent), His active and real presence in our reality (immanence) allows us to experience Him. When you look at it that way, you can say that God's perfection isn’t distant or theoretical but real, relational, and personally knowable.

But, as with any great philosophical argument, Anselm’s ontological proof has not gone without its critiques.

Immanuel Kant, a philosopher famous for his challenge to traditional metaphysics, rejected Anselm’s idea that existence is a prerequisite for perfection. Kant argued that existence is not a quality that adds greatness to a being. To say that something “exists,” he proposed, does not add any essence to its nature. In other words, the concept of a perfect island doesn’t affirm its perfection simply because it exists. Existence, for Kant, is more of a neutral state—simply the fact of being, not a value-adding property.

But the very idea of a perfect being—if it's going to mean anything beyond fairy tale—has to transcend the realm of imagination and take on actual existence. Kant’s objection, while clever, doesn’t land when it comes to God. It’s not just that God could exist—our very engagement with the idea demands that He does.

To imagine God without existence betrays the very nature of what it means to be God. God's existence is not just one attribute among others but is intrinsic to His very nature.

Through His necessary existence, we can encounter the fullness of who He is. If He didn’t exist, then all His other attributes would be fantasy.

In essence, if we define God as the greatest possible being—not just in concept but in actuality—then He has to exist not only in the mind, but in reality. Otherwise, we are not speaking of the greatest being at all.

While Kant’s counterpoint continues to fuel debate, there’s something compelling about the philosophical clarity Anselm brought to the question, isn’t there?

His argument challenges us to see existence as more than just a neutral fact—it’s a vital dimension of perfection itself. Perfection, which Anselm suggests, isn’t truly perfect unless it’s actualized in reality.

I think that insight adds a layer of richness to how we understand the perfection of God.

Anselm put it like this:
“God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived. And if such a being existed only in the mind, we could conceive of a greater—one that exists in reality. Therefore, the greatest conceivable being must exist in reality.” - Anselm

In other words, the very idea of perfect greatness demands existence. If God were only a mental concept, He wouldn’t be the greatest being possible. His perfection—by definition—requires reality.

Anselm’s ontological argument stands as a philosophical testament not only to reason but to our deep need for a God who’s not just perfect in theory, but real in presence.

It forces us to reflect on the nature of perfection, not as something static or abstract, but as something that exists in relationship to the world. To grasp the perfection of God is to grasp His existence, not just as an intellectual exercise, but as something that defines our very understanding of greatness.

In a world constantly questioning and searching for meaning, maybe the ontological argument can help us to reconsider the profound implications of existence. To know that perfection exists is not just to ponder an idea; it is to encounter something that fills the soul, something that transcends the boundaries of logic and thought and invites us into the fullness of reality itself.

The atheist can’t find God for the same reason that a thief can’t find a policeman. ~ Author Unknown

Have you ever considered that the very idea of God being perfect means He is perfect? Mind blown?

How important is the perfection of God? Could He even be God if He weren’t?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, please, otherwise I’m just philosophizing in a vacuum.

If these words have got you thinking and you’d like to help others think about it as well, share on your socials, and let’s discuss!