Existence of God: Impact on Human Interaction and Anselm's Theory

Running head: EXISTENCE OF GOD
EXISTENCE OF GOD
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Introduction:
Emile Durkheim, the famous sociologist believed that anyone who has genuinely
practiced a religion knows well that it stimulates the feeling of inner peace, joy, serenity, and
enthusiasm that for the faithful stands as experimental proof of their beliefs. According to
Durkheim, the cult is not a mere system of signs that the faith is outwardly expressed, it is a
collection of means through which the faith that created and recreated periodically. Regardless of
the cult’s consistent whether it is mental or physical it has been a cult that is efficacious (Greene,
2015). Religion as an institute is one of the oldest social institution consisting set of beliefs,
feelings, dogmas, and practices that build a relation between human being and divinity.
Therefore, it has been one of the aspects that makes a tremendous contribution in shaping the
followers’ behavior pattern.
The essay aims to argue that a belief in the supernatural or divine being impacts on the
way human interacts with another. The essay aims to evaluate the impact of believing on the
follower’s social interaction as religion is one of the oldest and social institutions existing in
society through the concept of Anselm.
The concept of religion and divine being:
Religion can be defined with various characteristics and feature. Religion is a belief that
consists of various religious practices. The religious feeling is termed as faith and unity among
people sharing the same faith is universal (Turner, Abrahams & Harris, 2017). People belonging

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to different religion have faith in different things which is what makes religion different from
another. Religion or the belief in divinity can be an individual’s central part of identification.
The word ‘religion’ is derived from a Latin term meaning to ‘bind or tie together’
(Berkes, 2013). The modern dictionary defines religion in simple words as an organized system
of beliefs and rituals centering on a supernatural being or beings. Although it binds people
together with the norms and rituals, it is much more than a mere sharing of faith, belief, and
rituals as the modern ritual define religion. It is also being involved in the beliefs deeply and
making self a part of a community or often even a culture (Newton & McIntosh, 2013).
Features of religion and the divine being:
Religions around the world have various similarities which are universal in nature.
According to scholar Stephen Prothero it is called ‘family resemblances’ (Johnson, 2015). All
the religion around the world includes rituals, scriptures, specific sacred days and gathering
places. Every religion provides its followers the information and directions for acting in just and
appropriate way in society and the way to serve the divine being. The followers are instructed by
religion the ways human being should be acting toward one another. For example, the world’s
three of religions, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism share a common origin, and they trace their
beginnings to the biblical figures of Abraham.
Incredible diversities exist in each religion in term of the way members feel their
connection to their faith. For some, the religion’s theological beliefs and rituals are centric to
their lives while there are some who are more drawn to the religion’s culture and community

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instead of beliefs and rituals (Lovejoy, 2017). Also, some people only feel part of religion’s
culture and choose not to participate in the ceremonies. Some people decline the notion of
religion and its identity while some people feel free to choose religion according to their will.
Due to these choices and preferences, people have different approaches to social
interaction. According to Boyle and Sheen (2013), in religion, even government plays a part by
either supporting one religion more than others or even protect citizen’s freedom from the
making individual have the freedom from religious restrictions.
The case study: Anselm’s thoughts on the existence God and its impact
Anselm was one of the most important Christian thinker belonging to the eleventh
century. The most popular philosophy was his discovery and articulation of ‘ontological
argument’ (Abulafia & Abulafia, 2013). According to Logan (2016), it was for the first time in
the western Christian tradition that was presented in his 10178 work Proslogion. His ontological
argument claims to be an a priori evidence of God’s existence. His argument is independent of
experience and was solely based on logical reasoning and concepts such as any mathematician
would do.
Anselm’ theory was supported not by his skills but by the logic that was in the opinion
that there is the existence of God. He defines God, “a being than which no greater being can be
conceived.” His argument had several points in his argument of Proslogium.
1. He believed the existence of God was in understanding and not in reality.
2. The existence in reality is greater than existence in the understanding alone.