Saint Anselm (A.D. 1033–1109) was an Italian monk, philosopher, and theologian who served as Archbishop of Canterbury for 16 years. He’s most famous for his spirited defenses of the incarnation and belief in God (though you might remember him from a brief reference in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!). He’s considered one of the medieval Scholastics, a movement in Christianity known for its rich philosophical treatments of the Christian faith. But such a quick association doesn’t do justice to Anselm, who understood that the best apologetic for Christianity was through the heart, not just the mind. If you read his theological writings expecting something dry and detached, you might find yourself wondering if you’ve accidentally picked up a book of love poetry!
Nowadays, you’re most likely to find the imagination and Christian orthodoxy at opposite ends of things, as people trying to recapture the Christian imagination wander away from God’s designs in their search for creative freedom, while believers formed only by explanation fail to realize how much of Christianity they’re missing. Our namesake helps us remember that we serve a God whose obedient service requires our heads, our hearts, and our wills—and that a renaissance of a truly Christian imagination requires not abandoning the ancient faith, but going “further up and further in.”
Want more?
Listen to Malcolm Guite tell us why he’s glad we named the Society after Anselm (first few minutes of the audio file).
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”
G.K. Chesterton, “What’s Wrong With the World”