This is a true story of a professor of philosophy who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove that the Gods in any form, couldn't exist. His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic. For twenty years, he had taught this class and no one had ever had the courage to go against him. Sure, some had argued, but no one had ever 'really gone against him' (you'll see what I mean later). Nobody would go against him because he had a reputation.
At the end of every semester, on the last day, he would say to his class of 200 students, "If there's anyone here who still believes in a Deity, stand up!" In twenty years, no one had ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "because anyone who does believe in Gods is a fool. If Gods existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove that They are Gods, and yet They can't do it." and every year, he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and it would shatter into a hundred pieces. All of the students could do nothing but stop and stare. Most of the students were convinced that the Gods couldn't exist. Certainly, a number of Pagans, Muslims and Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years, they had been too afraid to stand up.
Well, a few years ago, there was a freshman who happened to get enrolled in the class. He was a Pagan, and had heard the stories about this professor. He had to take the class because it was one of the required classes for his major. and he was afraid. But for 3 months that semester, he did private ritual every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said or what the class thought. Nothing they said or did could ever shatter his faith, he hoped.
Finally the day came. The professor said, "If there is anyone here who still believes in Gods, stand up!" The professor and the class of 200 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the classroom. The professor shouted, "You FOOL!! If Gods existed, They could keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!"
He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleats of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away, unbroken.
The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man and then ran out of the lecture hall. The young man who had stood up proceeded to walk to the front of the room and share his faith in his Gods for the next half hour. 200 students stayed and listened as he told of his faith and love for Them in which he places his trust, and of his power through ritual and love. Though not a faith of conversion, he spoke openly and widely to others and listened to their faith as well, for all paths lead to the Gods.
WOULD YOU HAVE STOOD UP ???
By: Marcus Trinsey
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