Me: “A triangle has three sides.”
Atheist: “But I don’t believe in triangles. How do you know they have three sides?”
Me: “Because when you draw a shape with three sides, it is a triangle.”
A: “How can you know that it has three sides?”
Me: “Because it does.”
A: “Well, I want proof that a triangle has three sides.”
Me: “Well, there is this philosopher named Euclid, who discovered the principle of what’s possible in geometry. And the first principles were triangles, which have three sides.”
A: “Philosophy isn’t scientific.”
Me: “Yes. Yes it is.”
A: “Well, how can you prove that a triangle has three sides? What if it had four?”
Me: “Then it’d be a square.”
A: “You’re a square.”
Me: “Can we please keep to the topic? If it has three sides, it is a triangle.”
A: “Well, I’ve heard of a shape like that, but it cannot be determined how many sides a triangle has.”
Me: “Yes. A triangle has three sides.”
A: “You say that, but can you offer proof?”
Me: “No. I cannot offer proof that a triangle has three sides. You just have to know that.”
A: “Well, then a Triangle doesn’t exist.”
Me: “I’ll draw one for you.”
A: “Sure.”
I proceed to draw a triangle.
A: “That doesn’t prove that a triangle exists.”
Me: “If it doesn’t prove that a triangle exists, then I’m afraid it cannot be proven. It just has to be accepted on faith that it is a triangle.”
A: “See, I can only believe in what I see.”
Me: “Well, you can see this shape. It is called a triangle.”
A: “But that’s not proof enough. I need more proof that triangles have three sides.”
Me: “You can count them.”
A: “No… I want you to prove that a triangle has three sides.”
Substitute God with “A Triangle” and “Three Sides” with Morality.
Use your imagination to make the actual debate.
Because if you can’t, I don’t believe you.
This is how atheists sound when they argue about God’s existence.
B. K. Neifert 