Tony:

What did Anselm say about God?

Gemini:

Anselm of Canterbury, an important philosopher and theologian, is most famous for his argument for the existence of God. This argument is known as the ontological argument.

Here's the gist of it:

Anselm defined God as the "being than which no greater can be conceived."

By definition, something that exists in reality is greater than something that exists only as an idea in the mind.

If God existed only as an idea, we could imagine something greater (a being that exists both in reality and as an idea).

But we cannot conceive of something greater than God.

Therefore, God must exist in reality.

Anselm's argument has been debated by philosophers for centuries. Some find it convincing, while others argue that existence is not a property that can be added to an idea.

Anselm also wrote about other aspects of God, but the ontological argument remains his most famous contribution to philosophical theology.

Tony:

And, what did Augustine say about God?

Gemini:

Augustine of Hippo, another influential theologian, had a lot to say about God. Here are some key points:

Creator: Augustine believed God is the ultimate source of everything. He created the universe from nothing and sustains it through his will.

Goodness: God is the ultimate good, perfect and unchanging. All created things are good insofar as they participate in God's goodness.

Mystery: While God can be known through reason and faith, Augustine also emphasized the mystery of God. God is ultimately beyond our full comprehension.

Grace: Due to human sinfulness, we need God's grace for salvation. Augustine emphasized the importance of God's love and mercy in our lives.

Two Cities: He developed the concept of the "Two Cities," the City of God (those living according to God's will) and the City of Man (those focused on earthly pursuits).

If you'd like to delve deeper, Augustine's writings, especially "Confessions" and "City of God," offer a detailed exploration of his thoughts on God.