Conversation Between a Philosopher and a Religious During Quarantine #3

Thoughts and reflections on tough times

PART 1

PART 2

An Atheist Goes to Heaven…

— Here we are.

— Is that your house?

— Yes.

— Cute. I like the place.

— Have you ever been here?

— No.

— Oh, I thought you were a kind of urban traveler.

— I prefer mind wandering.

— I guess.

— But I’ve been on a lot of trips.

— Were have you been?

— All around the world.

— Favorite places?

— Iceland, Italy, India, Caribbean, Japan…

— Wow! I’ve been only in France for a week!

— I recommend you to travel, it’s a beautiful experience.

— Sure, will do. Here, come in.

— Ah, this is it.

— Yeah, this is the apartment.

— Intimate.

— Yes, I like it like that.

— May I sit?

— Of course! I’ll make a tea. Wanna tea?

— Thanks. It’s a luck we didn’t encounter police on the way here.

— A luck for sure, they are always around my neighborhood.

— Do you ever feel trapped, in this period?

— Oh, you bet.

— Well, we’re lucky to be healthy.

— Yeah, all the time I think about the poor people with the virus…

— Pigs in a cage on antibiotics. I always feel sad for them.

— Oh! Do you listen to Radiohead???

— Yeah, they are one of my favorite bands.

— So cool! I’m a fan too!

— That’s fantastic!

— Now, I want to listen to it.

— Oh, you got the LP?

— Yeah, but I’ll use the net, for now. Let me put it.

— Sure!

— This song owns me every time for its deepness…

— It really reflects the human condition these days. Or better…

— …in the days before the pandemic.

— Yes.

— But for many, this will be the routine again.

— Do you identify yourself in some of the lyrics?

— Oh, yeah. But many of them reflect my past, not the present.

— For example?

— Well, I could make a whole essay on them!

— I’m curious.

— I know. Oh, tea is ready. Here’s your cup.

— Thanks.

— So, Fitter, happier. As you can see, and don’t lie ‘bout that, I’ve never been a model or an athlete. Movement has never been a priority for me, maybe due to my many traumas as a kid.

— Traumas?

— Yeah, I’ve been bullied.

— Oh, I’m sorry for that. I had similar problems back in my days.

— Bullied?

— In a way. I was considered strange because I isolated myself, I preferred to read, to stay alone, while my mates played or chatted ‘bout futile things.

— Oh, how many times! I’ve always been a bit isolated. And that’s why I focused on my beliefs.

— Because you needed a true friend.

— Yes.

— An imaginary friend.

— I know what you think about Gods, but it is a form of relief.

— I found relief in other things.

— Like?

— Believing in myself.

— I’ve tried that. For me it’s difficult.

— It’s not, if you focus on your potential.

— I know that, but I’m a bit, well…

— …defeatist?

— Yeah. And this leads to the other verse. More productive. Ah, that’s the story of my life! Ideas on ideas, but I’ve never been able to realize what I really wanted. Dreams are hard to realize.

— I realized my dreams.

— How?

— Believing in them.

— So, you are a believer.

— A believer in something that’s concrete.

— A dream is concrete?

— Yes, if you let be possessed by it. It moves through you.

— I feel a bit uncomfortable thinking about this…

— Comfortable. That’s important in life.

— Yeah, and also Not drinking too much.

— Had you problems with alcohol?

— Indirectly.

— Who was guilty?

— My ex.

— Did he treat you badly due to this addiction?

— In a way.

— Is it painful for you to talk about that?

— Yes.

— Ok.

— But hey, life goes on.

— True.

— Regular exercise at the gym, three days a week. NEVER!

— Ahahahahahah!

— Getting on better with your associate employee contemporaries. Never had and even if I had them, I would not even be interested in that!

— At ease, at ease.

— You are right.

— We don’t have to blame people for our inner problems.

— I always had this difficulty with people I don’t like.

— Legit.

— You?

— Uh, everyone?

— Ah! Then there’s a double standard here!

— Eating well, no more microwave dinners and saturated fats. I’ve seen a lot of them in your kitchen. Double standard too?

— Oh… Long eye!

— Being an existence observer helps you in other contextes.

— I see that very well.

— And what do you see, other than that?

— A patient, better driver.

— Got no car, right now.

— A safer car, baby smiling in back seat. I don’t drive cars. I go by walk or bicycle, I don’t like cars. They generate pollution.

— About having babies?

— Uh, one of my secret dreams.

— Having kids.

— Yes.

— You know there’s also antinatalism?

— Really?

— Yeah.

— But why?

— The concept is that life is suffering.

— Ok.

— So, having babies is selfish and almost a crime.

— Wow.

— Because doing that, you bring more suffering in the world.

— Well, it is a good point. But what if you donate all the love in the world to your kids?

— For antinatalists, it doesn't matter. You provoke suffering in people.

— I had this idea, when I was young.

— Are you old?

— Hey!

— Joke! I mean, you are still young.

— Ah! By the way…

— Yeah.

— Sleeping well, no bad dreams. Insomnia all my life. Bad dreams all my life.

— I wrote a poem about that.

— Really? May I read it?

— Sure, I have it in my pocket… Here.

— Thanks.

th’Outlets of Fiction calculate the Route to our Fathers; cover this Rainbow, tie the Reactor of the Ministry of Swords, mute the arrogant Inspector, picture a permanent Era in rewards, the Nest that abolishes all Honors in a Trench of Laws — substitute Waves of Banquets with a lone Disappointment, leading to th’Absorption of Compliances and a Tendency to th’Execution of complex Diplomatics; this Article of contemporary Rugby (Life) try to be the Coma of flawed Ducks, spotted under Worry of operational Horrors — parameter of our Nightmares

— That’s full of symbolism!

— Ye, some.

— Some? Lots!

— You have to find the meaning, just like in real life.

— No paranoia. I’m quite like the most paranoid person in the world! How I can do that?

— As said, be yourself.

— Careful to all animals, never washing spiders down the plughole?

— Yeah, that’s a good start.

— Keep in contact with old friends, enjoy a drink now and then?

— That too, without being a savage.

— I’m not a savage. I’m an animal.

— Can I pet you?

— No!

— Ok.

— The only one that can pet me is God.

— Ways to do that?

— With your religion.

— Love?

— Yes, but in divine form.

— That in the end, it’s just the love of yourself.

— Even if it was, it would still be love.

— And that’s what really matters.

— Would you like another cup of tea?

— Yes, please.

— More sugar?

— More love, please.

— All we need is love. Do you have other poems in your magical pockets?

— Yes.

— Read another one for me.

— Really?

— Yes!

— No one has ever been interested in my compositions.

— Now you have found one.

— I’m glad.

— Now, go for it.

— Sure.

— Any topic.

— Yes… Uhm, this one.

— I’m all ears.

I’m sick to discriminate a Lion in a metal Attic — the Cards of my Age are decisive Bullets in the right Direction; begins the Hobby of frightening the Staff of the Exit, period of Sheeps exposed and coursed by a Memorandum of unorthodox Secularism — My Bedroom seems like a broken Salad and I sip the Reception that leans in continuous to hear Soldiers in a crevice Field and the Precision that He, the Champion of great Mastermind doubt a minimum Gutter of Velvet Motifs, complaining ‘bout Steam to coincide in a Nuance, the Equation of the peaceful Fists

— Wow, I think you are inspired by some divine intervention.

— It’s all flour from my bag.

— Ok, I will make you believe in God, after our meeting.

— I will do the opposite, in the end.

— It’s a challenge?

— It’s a discovery.

— Of?

— Of us.

— I can’t wait to find out more, then.

— Me too.

TO BE CONTINUED

© ICO 2020

Francesco Biz Trista Ainsworth Matthew Gliatto Desiree Driesenaar Erin King Joe Luca Manasi Diwakar Shin Jie Yong Timothy Key Dan Leicht Alberta Trebla Gurpreet Dhariwal Simran Kankas Dr Mehmet Yildiz Elisabeth Khan Meg Laura Manipura Jo Ann Harris George J. Ziogas Salam Khan Kevin Buddaeus John Ross Amy Marley Dipti Pande Mario Lopez-Goicoechea Isak Dinesen Timothy Key Dan Leicht Jill Orban Linda Latt Robert Nelson