He was certain that no one could seriously argue for or accept these alternatives and that left only his favored explanation. The problem with the trilemma is that it assumes what is regularly denied, namely. I cannot personally conclude that jesus was a liar or a lunatic. I am trying to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him. He was certain that no one could seriously argue for or accept these alternatives and that left only his favored. Collins was an atheist but became a devout christian and he quotes some of the books of c s lewis as being an influence in his change of belief. Lewis author of the narnia series from his book mere christianity lets explore the topic of jesus true nature and identity. Mar 21, 2018 the trilemma argument, popularized by christian writer c. Mcdowells three premises that support p are that 1 jesuss claims were true, or 2 jesuss claims were false and he was a liar, or that 3 jesuss claims were false and he was a lunatic. Theologians call this the trilemma and its an argument that goes back a long time. Of course there are all kinds of options not included in that false trilemma. Lewis was a christian apologist in the early 20th century. Lewis book mere christianity part of princeton university presss lives of great religious books series, marsden offers a thorough roundup of opinion on lewis famous trilemma. The mission of an apologist is to comfort the faithful, not confound the.
Lewis popularized the argument that jesus was either a liar or a lunatic or the lord. In the midnineteenth century the scottish christian preacher rabbi john duncan 17961870 formulated what he called a trilemma. One of the arguments skeptics like to disprove is c. Apr, 2016 you can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon. Lewis argument for jesus being christknown as lord, liar, or lunaticis an argument thats riddled with flaws and fallacies. May 17, 2008 the trilemma a man who was merely a man and said the sort of things jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. Well, at least one can give you partial credit for adding to the ridiculous lunatic, liar or lord choices given by c. Lewis quote on jesus as liar, lunatic, or lord from mere christianity i am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him that is, christ. The argument that is unconvincing and without merit, in my opinion, is that jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, a legend, or god incarnate, and legend can be ruled out, so were back to the trilemmaliar, lunatic, or lord. Jesus must have been a liar he knew that he wasnt what he said he was, a lunatic he was crazy, so that explains his wild claims, or. Even a number of theologians have pointed out that the liar, lunatic or lord argument is unsound.
Many christians who attempt to provide themselves with some understanding or defense of their beliefs eventually run into the liar, lunatic, or lord argument provided by c. Jan 17, 2019 there is no getting out of this trilemma. May 31, 2017 probably one of the most commonly used arguments for the deity of jesus is the lord, liar, lunatic trilemma. The great christian apologist, professor, and author c. Im ready to accept jesus as a great moral teacher, but i dont accept his claim to. But in spite of the logic and evidence, many people cannot seem to bring themselves to this conclusion. S lewis trilemma a good argument for the divinity of christ. This argument is not a straightforward argument for the existence of god. The problem with liar, lunatic, or lord the bart ehrman blog. Is jesus really whom he is reported to have said he was. Second, if he is neither god nor a lunatic, he has to be a liar, deceiving others by. Here is the argument in lewis own words from his book mere christianity. Lewis wrote, i am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him.
Lewis and is known as the lord, liar, lunatic argument, or the trilemma. If he was a liar or a lunatic, then he cant qualify as a great moral teacher. Jesus is unique christ cannot be a good religious man or moral teacher when he claimed to be god. Therefore, the basic formal logical structure of the argument remains sound and the trilemma must be reckoned with one way or the other. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. In other words, the argument implies that if you find it difficult to call jesus a liar or a lunatic, you are being led, therefore, to see him as lord. Lewis liar, lunatic, or lord trilemma in george marsdens brand new biography of c. One version was popularised by university of oxford literary scholar and writer c. Apologists such as william lane craig cite this argument. Lewis wrote in mere christianity that jesus was either lord, a lunatic, or the devil of hell. S lewis trilemma page 1 who do you say that i am jesus matthew 16. Nov 01, 2000 liar, lunatic or lord harris, dennis on. The trilemma concludes that jesus is god so let p stand for the assertion jesus is god. Christianity for everyone is his apologetics blog and facebook page.
The only other alternative is that he wasand isthe christ, the son of god, as he claimed. Lord, liar, lunatic illustration next steps when youre sharing the gospel its pretty important that you be able to make a compelling case that jesus is god. Thus, if jesus is not god, he is either a liar, lunatic, or legend. Lewis on bbc radio, hence the name of the trilemma. Probably one of the most commonly used arguments for the deity of jesus is the lord, liar, lunatic trilemma. I could use your help with a presentation im preparing. As an atheist myself i was curious about how such a change could happen, particularly when only 7% of elite scientists in the usa have any. Jan 16, 2017 i could use your help with a presentation im preparing. Lewiss trilemma is an apologetic argument traditionally used to argue for the divinity of jesus by arguing that the only alternatives were that he was evil or deluded.
If jesus claimed to be god, but knew he wasnt and was just saying that to manipulate people, gain followers, become popular, or for whatever reason then he was. The liar, lunatic or lord argument attempts to present a case through process of elimination of all other options, that jesus christ must have been god. Its clear that jesus claimed to be more than just human. And so there is an easy response to the false conclusion that because jesus called himself god, he must be a liar, a lunatic, or the lord. Lewis developed the lord, liar, or lunatic trilemma to get people to think through this issue of jesus identity. Josh continues to discuss the trilemma when it comes to the.
Lord, liar, or lunatic by peter kreeft on amazon music. It approaches the issue of gods existence indirectly. Liar, lunatic or lord hardcover november 1, 2000 by dennis harris author 4. S lewis trilemma a good argument for the divinity of.
Here the former atheist presents an argument known as the trilemma, also known as the lord, liar or lunatic argument as coined by josh mcdowell. Jan 09, 2008 well, at least one can give you partial credit for adding to the ridiculous lunatic, liar or lord choices given by c. On march 11, 2020 february 21, 2020 by phillip in phillip hadden perhaps one of the most convincing arguments made by bart ehrman due to an emotional connection in recent christian memory is the attempt to dispel the historicity of the gospels by challenging c. Trilemma and the trifurcate phrase lord, liar, or lunatic lll suggest a threeway decision, two of which according to the argument constitute a dilemma, thus favoring the third. The history of the liar, lunatic, lord trilemma conversant. Lewis and popularised in mere christianity even a number of theologians have pointed out that the liar, lunatic or lord argument is unsound. It is sometimes described as the lunatic, liar, or lord, or mad, bad, or god argument. He is planning to write a book that demonstrates the comprehensive truth of christianity.
Lewis said to the british nation through the bbc broadcast talks which became his influential. If jesus claims to be god and the claim is true, then he is god. Nov 28, 2012 but lets return to lewiss famous trilemma. Lewis book mere christianity part of princeton university presss lives of great religious books series, marsden offers a thorough roundup of opinion on lewis famous. But, as kyle barton has shown, he didnt invent it in the midnineteenth century the scottish christian preacher rabbi john duncan 17961870 formulated what he called a trilemma. Nov 16, 2017 thus, if jesus is not god, he is either a liar, lunatic, or legend. Im ready to accept jesus as a great moral teacher, but i dont accept his claim to be god. Lewiss trilemma is an apologetic argument traditionally used to argue for the divinity of jesus. The divine trilemma lord, liar, or lunatic youtube. But enough speculation, allow lewis himself to explain. Nonetheless, we do not really know when, or even if, there was really a jesus. Lewis quote on jesus as liar, lunatic, or lord from mere.
Structurally it might more accurately be viewed as a binary decision in which one of the branches is asserted to lead to a dilemma, thus favoring the other branch. Before discussing the critique of the lord, liar, or lunatic lll argument, i think. Commonly called the trilemma or lord liar or lunatic although lewis didnt use exactly those words, although one wonders why it becomes so important to discredit a philosophical argument having little bearing on the facts involving the diety of jesus. Lewis introduces the argument by observing how most people who don.
If he knows he is not god and still teaches he is, then he is lying, and that, of course, makes him a liar. Check out lord, liar, or lunatic by peter kreeft on amazon music. It helps to make a simple sketch as you go for this one. If he was so great and so moral, then what do you do with his claim to be god. Lewis socalled trilemma, or lord, liar, lunatic argument. And if he was a great moral teacher, then he is much more as well he is either a liar, a lunatic, or the lord god. Im ready to accept jesus as a great moral teacher, but i dont accept. Lewis and the trilemma argument in mere christianity. The accounts of jesus life and teachings were recorded in remarkable proximity to the actual events. Im ready to accept jesus as a great moral teacher, but i dont. In recent times, however, the argument has been complicated by the fact that some add a fourth possibility.
Lewis, but the argument has a long history with many reference points in christian teaching. My redeemer books evidence that demands a verdict chapter 7. It goes like this and you heard it referenced in that video. I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish. Next, he briefly noted that there is a fourth possibility legend though he also noted that there is ample evidence to rebut that claim. Chesterton used something similar to the trilemma in his book, the everlasting man 1925, which lewis cited in 1962 as. Lewis popularized whats come to be known as the lord, liar, lunatic trilemma. Lewis originally coined the argument in radio broadcasts and later in his book mere. The lewis trilemma is a fallacious apologetical argument for the divinity of jesus, invented c. Nonetheless, we do not really know when, or even if, there was really a. The idea that jesus called himself god is not historical. Lord, liar, or lunatic by martin cothran memoria press. I know theres a lot more out there i purposely stopped at lewis, but this is just a brief survey. I first read it in watchman nees normal christian faith my sophomore year in high school, which predates mere christianity by a few years.
A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. S lewis trilemma, that jesus had to be a liar, lunatic, or lord. Lord, liar, or lunatic january 4, 2019 whitweather 4d comments and jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of caesarea philippi. Here the former atheist presents an argument known as the trilemma, also known as the lord, liar, or lunatic argument as coined by josh mcdowell.
The article below responds to jim perrys article concerning whether jesus was god. The former is the honestly mistaken option, the most common skeptical attempt to add to the trilemma. November 28, 2012 bob seidensticker patheos explore the worlds faith through. Seeing jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and pleaded earnestly with him, my little daughter is dying.
Below, i try to trace the development of the liar, lunatic, lord trilemma throughout church history. Not a liar, not a lunatic, but the lord since jesus identified himself as the unique son of god, there are only two alternatives. It is naive and outdated to simply trot out the dilemma liar, lunatic or lord. And so the choices are liar, lunatic, lord, or legend. It takes the form of a trilemma a choice among three options, each of which is in some way. He would either be a lunatic on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg or he would be the devil of hell. Lewiss trilemma argument he makes in mere christianity, that jesus had to be either lord, liar, or lunatic. Those who respond to this argument by writing jesus off as either a liar or a lunatic are, for all that has been said so far, just as reasonable as those who respond by accepting jesus as lord. The trilemma argument, popularized by christian writer c. He also briefly traced it back to the sixteenth century.
Lewis quote on jesus as liar, lunatic, or lord from. Apr 17, 2017 yes, i do have a patreon account, thank you for asking. It is inexorable john duncan, colloquia peripatetica. Im ready to accept jesus as a great moral teacher, but i. Lewis popularized the trilemma of liar, lunatic or lord and josh mcdowell, and others, ran with that in order to firm up a foundation that may seek to exclude other options.
The divine trilemma lord, liar, or lunatic standardized apologetics. Aug 03, 2015 but lets return to lewiss famous trilemma. Is there good evidence to show that jesus was not a legend. Below, i want to look at what i consider to be one of the most important arguments for the truth of christianity. Lewis liar, lunatic, or lord trilemma faithlife blog. Lewis believed so and also believed that he had a very good argument for convincing people to agree. Rabbi john duncan, and watchman nee in his 1936 book, normal christian faith. This argument is an attack only on the view that jesus was a great teacher but not god. The atheist website hosts a critique of josh mcdowells evidence that demands a verdict. August 3, 2015 bob seidensticker patheos explore the worlds faith through. I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him. He was certain that no one could seriously argue for or accept these. He is the author of several books for private and home schools.