Reasonable Faith Podcast Question of the Week #975: So You Think the Ontological Argument Is Irrelevant?
Feb 12, 2026
A personal testimony of coming to faith through natural theology and the ontological argument. A discussion of that argument's surprising evangelistic appeal and popularity online. Notes on terminology like "greatest possible being," "maximally great being," and how to explain possibility to lay audiences. Cautions about communicating possible worlds versus possible realities.
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Conversion Triggered By Ontological Argument
- Joshua credits the ontological argument with leading him to saving faith after a friend presented it conversationally.
- He describes an intense, Spirit-driven conviction when asked whether necessity or contingency is greater.
Phrase Shapes Theological Implication
- Replacing 'greatest conceivable being' with 'greatest possible being' avoids limiting God to human conception.
- The phrase also implicitly affirms God's possibility and shifts burden to objectors to show impossibility.
Use Simpler Modality Language
- Try using 'possible realities' instead of 'possible worlds' when talking to non-philosophers to reduce confusion.
- Joshua argues 'possible realities' better conveys inclusion of multiverse and all of reality in popular presentations.