An atheist, finding himself seated next to an older cowboy on a lengthy flight, decided to break the ice. He suggested that a good conversation could make the time pass more quickly. The cowboy, who had been settling in with a book, agreed amiably and asked what topic the younger man had in mind. With a confident smirk, the atheist proposed they discuss the non-existence of God, the fallacy of an afterlife, and the emptiness of concepts like Heaven and Hell. He was ready for a philosophical debate.
The old cowboy didn’t react with anger or dismissal. Instead, he paused thoughtfully, as if considering the proposal. Then he offered a question of his own. He noted that a horse, a cow, and a deer all share the same diet—grass. Yet, he pointed out, a deer produces small pellets, a cow makes flat patties, and a horse leaves behind clumps. He turned to the atheist and asked simply, “Why do you think that is?” The atheist, thoroughly surprised by this turn, was stumped. He had to admit he didn’t know the answer.
Leaning back in his seat with a calm demeanor, the cowboy tipped his hat and delivered his response. He suggested that if someone doesn’t understand the simple, observable mechanics of the natural world right in front of them, perhaps they should be cautious about making absolute pronouncements on the grandest mysteries of all. The conversation ended there, with a gentle reminder that sometimes humility is the beginning of true understanding, not the end of a debate.
