Other Definitions
trilemma (dict)
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TrilemmaA trilemma is similar to a dilemma, but with three options that a choice must be made between. If the three options are mutually exclusive and jointly exhaustive (i.e., they cover all the possibilities and you can't pick more than one), then the trilemma can be resolved by eliminating two of them. The most famous trilemma -- often referred to simply as "the trilemma" -- is a form of apologetics meant to prove the divinity of Jesus. It is summarized as "Liar, Lunatic, or Lord." The argument states that Jesus claimed to be the son of God. Therefore, one of three things must be true: 1) Liar: Jesus was not the son of God, and he knew it, but he said so anyway.
2) Lunatic: Jesus was not the son of God, but he mistakenly believed that he was.
3) Lord: Jesus was the son of God, and thus spoke the truth. Those who make the trilemma argument claim that the first two options are, for various reasons, not acceptable, and that therefore we must believe Jesus' claim to be the son of God. Skeptics may answer that it does make sense to think Jesus was a liar or a lunatic, or that the biblical record is inaccurate and therefore we don't know that Jesus actually said he was the son of God.
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