Reason—Mr. Christian, Brother Judgment informs me that you wish some information from me. Please state your question.
Christian—Did you present the idea of the existence of God to your brother Judgment, and if so, where and how did you come by it?
Reason—I received it from Brother Memory, and opened it out and held it up so that Brother Judgment could scan it thoroughly, and he decided there was no such being, and I agree with him.
Christian—Will you call Memory, that I may learn where and how he obtained the idea? (Memory enters.)
Christian—Mr. Memory, are you an Atheist, and did you give Reason the idea of a God? If you did, how did you get it? Did you bring it into the world with you?
Memory—"Bring it into the world with me." What an absurd question! I never had an idea only as it was given me by Brother Reflection. If you doubt this, try and remember something you have never thought of, or think of something you never perceived. This, then, is the truth: Reflection received the idea from Perception and gave it to you, and you gave it to Memory, and he held it up to the eye of Reason, who, with your aid, spread it out before the mind of your brother Judgment, and he gave the decision, that there is no God; so we are all Atheists. Have you any more questions?
Christian—Yes, one more at least; I wish now to know how your brother Perception obtained the idea of a God—will you tell me, or call him?
Memory—Oh, I can tell you; he has five porters who bring him all he ever gets, and they, with us, are all Atheists. But one or another of these must have brought him the idea.
Christian—Will you ask them which one gave it to your brother Perception?