One day a rationalist walks into the country of idiots**. As she goes about visiting places and asking questions, idiots got intrigued as they never came across someone like her. They could neither understand, nor explain. However, her questions did generate some interest and heightened general curiosity level about a topic that was never questioned till date i.e. God. Old and the experienced ones realized that's not a good sign and must be contained. So, they roped in the smartest of them and approached her for a debate.
Idiot: God is great.
Rationalist: There is no bloody god.
Now, that was an outrageous answer. The idiots' beliefs were never challenged that way. They glared at her, incensed.
Idiot: You will go to hell and burn in hellfire and I will go to heaven.
Rationalist: Well, there is no hell, neither any heaven. Get a life. These cock and bull stories are meant to keep you idiots busy.
The idiot had some self-doubt, so he came down a bit and thought he would rather challenge her intellectually.
Idiot: Tell me where do we go after the death?
Rationalist: Nowhere. We just cease to exist. Each of us is just a biological system with intelligence & emotion and that stops working at death. What remains is a mass of flesh, bones, blood and that rots. Simple.
The idiot had nothing to counter that explanation, particularly when she had already termed the fundamental tenets of their belief as cock & bull stories. In fact, couple of times even he had thought that way. So he, being the smartest of all idiots, opened up little bit and asked a more genuine question.
Idiot: Do you know there is power in prayer, faith?
Rationalist: Sure I do. But that has nothing to do with god, heaven or hell. Studies from reputed universities like Harvard have proved that meditation helps in improving brain functions including improvement in memory, reduces anxiety, tension. Your prayer is nothing but micro-meditation. Think of this - if you do exercise, your body will have stronger muscles. Similarly, practicing faith, prayer, meditation pacify your mind and have a calming effect on it. That's all scientific.
Idiot: So, you believe in faith?
Rationalist: Yes, as far as it's remains your personal fantasy and you recognize it as fantasy. Importantly, it works for you in dealing with disappointments, anxiety & tensions of life.
Idiot: Well, that makes sense. Wait, I can not accept this, my holy book doesn't approve this, neither it supports such theories.
Rationalist: Who wrote that book? It must be a god or son of god or a messenger of god. Also he must be the last one or the only one to bring the message to the masses. Isn't it? Well, there are tens of them and usually they all make similar claims. So, which one of those are you talking about?
By now he realized that he cannot beat her, but then he must stop her. He is the leader and has been entrusted to quell any dissent. He must stop her, otherwise the idiots will start indulging in free thinking and eventually, will have no fear left. He knows it's fear that works. He growls.
Idiot: We will kill you....
Rationalist: I am sure you will, if given an option. But before you do so, answer this for me - men created god or god created men?
She continued and said think of this - nature has given you eyes to see, ears to hear and a mind (brain) to think, just use your brain. Every creation of nature comes with a purpose. Keep it .... thuddd.... She could not complete her sentence, something hit her hard from back and she fell on the ground.
**An idiot, by definition, is a person of low intelligence. 'Intelligence' means the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills, that involves one's ability to do critical, logical and rationale thinking.