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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. This being is the best of all beings for what reason?

2. Anselm argues that the argument in number 47 is what?

3. God's compassion and justice are compatible because through __________________, God will make the wicked good and thus worthy of forgiveness.

4. God is defined as the being "than which ______________ can be conceived."

5. All things live through whom?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Chapter 3 of the Proslogium make?

2. To what is God identical?

3. Give an example showing why God must exist.

4. Why does Anselm say that only a fool would not believe in God?

5. What does Anselm say about the two types of conceivability?

6. How does Jesus derive existence from God? Why?

7. What challenge is raised in Chapter 16 of the Monologium?

8. What does Chapter 15 argue?

9. How is God a substance and also transcends substance?

10. What set of problems does Chapter 9 of the Proslogium introduced? How does Chapter 10 add to this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

St. Anselm's project of proving God's existence is a case of "faith seeking understanding."

Part 1) What is meant by this? How does St. Anselm go about seeking this understanding? Is he successful? Why or why not?

Part 2) Might these writings effectively convince a non-believer to believe, or are these writings purely for believers? Why?

Part 3) How important is understanding to having faith in something? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

The argument in the Monologium is importantly different from the Proslogium.

Part 1) What is the argument in each of these? How are they similar? How are they different?

Part 2) Why are these differences important? What do these differences reveal about God and everything in existence?

Part 3) How is this argument meant to help mankind? How might it help you?

Essay Topic 3

Anselm explains how Christ was free to sin but was sinless and died and suffered happily.

Part 1) How and why was he free to sin? Why did he not sin? What does this reveal about sin?

Part 2) Are humans able to be sinless and die happily? Why or why not? How different would the world be if this occurred in man today?

Part 3) Is sin a choice? Can sin be avoided? How much control does one have over his or her actions and emotions?

(see the answer keys)

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