• The debate is whether or not the ontological argument goes beyond defining God and helps to strengthen faith or even to convince people of existence of God.
• Gaunilo and Russell both argue that it possibly helps people to understand the concept of the God of classical theism, but that does not mean that it will change an atheist's view that God does not exist.
• As Kant points out, it is possible to have a definition of God as it is also possible to have a definition of triangle, but the triangle can be rejected altogether as can 'the concept of an absolutely necessary being'.
• It may be that the argument is more successful to help the believer develop a greater understanding of the attributes of God.

Kierkegaard:

Karl Barth: