Anselm of Canterbury and the Search for God

John T. Slotemaker

This volume provides a broad interpretation of Anselm’s theological method through a study of his Monologion. The Monologion has been chosen specifically because of its rich and nuanced account of the search for the one God. Through a careful analysis of this text what becomes evident is that Anselm’s theological project is much broader than a single argument or a simple account of how divine justice and honor are appeased. What one encounters is a theology informed by the notion of the human desire for God and the honest search to come to know God in an intimate way. The Monologion, therefore, will present an entry point into Anselm’s theological project. The second half of the volume will examine the reception history of Anselm’s two most famous philosophical and theological contributions (i.e., the “ontological argument” and the “satisfaction theory”). Anselm is often misunderstood because his approach to theology is reduced to the “one argument” or a carefully construed calculus of human redemption—such readings of Anselm abound and often obscure the Benedictine context within which his thought developed—and so a careful reading of Anselm’s texts and the history of reception and interpretation will offer a counter narrative to the standard perception of one of the greatest thinkers of Christian history.

Lexington Books / Fortress Academic

Pages: 160 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-9787-0141-0 • Hardback • March 2018 • $95.00 • (£65.00)

978-1-9787-0142-7 • eBook • March 2018 • $90.00 • (£60.00)

Series: Mapping the Tradition

Subjects: Religion / Theology, Philosophy / Religious, Religion / History, Religion / Philosophy

Anselm of Canterbury and the Search for God

Hardback

eBook

Summary

This volume provides a broad interpretation of Anselm’s theological method through a study of his Monologion. The Monologion has been chosen specifically because of its rich and nuanced account of the search for the one God. Through a careful analysis of this text what becomes evident is that Anselm’s theological project is much broader than a single argument or a simple account of how divine justice and honor are appeased. What one encounters is a theology informed by the notion of the human desire for God and the honest search to come to know God in an intimate way. The Monologion, therefore, will present an entry point into Anselm’s theological project. The second half of the volume will examine the reception history of Anselm’s two most famous philosophical and theological contributions (i.e., the “ontological argument” and the “satisfaction theory”). Anselm is often misunderstood because his approach to theology is reduced to the “one argument” or a carefully construed calculus of human redemption—such readings of Anselm abound and often obscure the Benedictine context within which his thought developed—and so a careful reading of Anselm’s texts and the history of reception and interpretation will offer a counter narrative to the standard perception of one of the greatest thinkers of Christian history.

Details

Lexington Books / Fortress Academic

Pages: 160 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-9787-0141-0 • Hardback • March 2018 • $95.00 • (£65.00)

978-1-9787-0142-7 • eBook • March 2018 • $90.00 • (£60.00)

Series: Mapping the Tradition

Subjects: Religion / Theology, Philosophy / Religious, Religion / History, Religion / Philosophy

Author

John T. Slotemaker is associate professor of medieval Christianity at Fairfield University.

Table of Contents

Part I: The Monologion
Chapter 1: Reason and the Existence of God
Chapter 2: The Divine Essence and Attributes
Chapter 3: The Divine Trinity
Chapter 4: The Image of God: Love, Hope, and Faith
Coda: Augustine and Anselm
Part II: Anselmian Reception
Chapter 5: God: The Medieval Reception
Chapter 6: God: The Modern Reception
Chapter 7: Human Redemption
Chapter 8: Faith Seeking Understanding

Anselm of Canterbury and the Search for God

John T. Slotemaker

Anselm of Canterbury and the Search for God

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