“I need to see you today!” The Queen had ordered and she could guess why.
Other calls had been from members of her atheist network wishing her big congratulations on her new appointment as President of Clay World.
The last call she received was from Judge Chinwe Nnadi, a judge of the federal high court Abuja. She was the most ardent Atheist Lisa knew and she was a huge inspiration to all of them. They had no leader in their network, but she was like the leader, dishing out instructions and encouragement to all of them. Judge Chinwe also had a YouTube Chanel she named “against religion” where she posted videos of debates she had with both Christians and Muslims. It was said that Judge Chinwe had never lost a debate about religion and her in-depth knowledge of the flaws in the Bible and the Quaran where amazing. Lisa had never met judge Chinwe in person, but she had seen all her YouTube videos and they spoke almost every day on phone encouraging each other. The dream was to rid Nigeria of religion in order to make the country great as they strongly believed they were backwards due to their strong religious beliefs.
“Take out Religion”, Judge Chinwe had said in one of her debates with a Muslim Cleric, “and watch Nigeria grow into a great nation. By the time we realize that there is no God to help our cause, we will help ourselves. We have religious prophets telling us that God is all powerful and that he can help us in our dire state. This has made every religious Nigerian lazy and uninventive. We fold our arms and wait for a God that doesn’t exist to help us. We spend productive time praying to an imaginary sky daddy, we invest in churches and mosques with our limited resources when these resources could have invested in more productive ways as to make our lives better. We have sick people who die all because they believe there is a God somewhere to heal them. We have people who have the IQ of a chicken and should be clerks or be in some other low position in life but are billionaires today because they are capable of swindling gullible religious people for their money by building churches and mosques and offering prayers and staged miracles. And of course we have people who kill and hurt their neighbors all in the name of God who apparently is all powerful but can’t fight his own battles for himself. Religion is the biggest curse in this country and it must be purged out”.
That was Chinwe Nnadi, an intelligent and outspoken Atheist with the right kind of mindset to change Nigeria for good. She was like a role model to Lisa and like a mother she had never seen physically but was always there for her. “You have all it takes to be a great woman Lisa”, Chinwe had told her the last time they spoke. “Make sure you take advantage of your new position and leave a mark that generations will thank you for”.
Lisa thought the words through. Chinwe had told her she had all it took to be a great woman, which meant she wasn’t yet a great woman. Being president of Clay World didn’t make her a great woman, instead leaving a mark that generations will thank her for will make her great. Lisa knew she had to do more than her singular debates with random Christians she came across. Chinwe had a YouTube channel and thousands of subscribers who watched her debates and many of them changed their views on religion. She had to do something similar now that she was on top. But what was she going to do? She knew to use her position to preach her beliefs, she had to first change her mother in-law. Judge Chinwe told her it was possible, so she had to try. After all, Dr Beatrice wasn’t an example of a very committed Christian. She believed she was, but even Lisa could spot many Christian beliefs she went against.
Lisa had just arrived at Dr Beatrice’s mansion with Daniel. The security at the front gate recognized the car and waved her in. Daniel jumped out even before she stopped and ran to the swing. She couldn’t leave him there alone, so she went after him and pulled him with her into the house even when he tried to protest. “Grandma wants to see you first”, she said and he grudgingly followed her.
Lisa noticed a fleet of cars that were not Dr beatrice’s and lots of policemen in the compound. She must have a very important visitor, she thought. This meant she had to wait in the small sitting room.
In the small sitting room was someone she wasn’t expecting to see. Mrs Agnes Eloho her director of advertising was seated probably waiting to see the queen. The woman was over 50 but was still very respectful and it pleased Lisa a lot. On seeing her, she jumped to her feet. “Good afternoon boss”, she greeted.
“Good afternoon Mrs Agnes”, Lisa smiled.
“Hello boy”, she smiled at Daniel with an outstretched hand and he shook her.
“Good day madam”, he greeted like she had thought him.
“You are one very handsome boy”, Mrs Agnes commended her son as they all sat down. “Dr Beatrice is with the Commissioner of works”, she informed.
“Omozuwa?” Lisa asked and Mrs Agnes nodded in response.
They sat in silence for some minutes. Lisa and Agnes had never really gotten along as they had no relationship outside the office although Lisa respected the woman’s commitment and work ethic. She did everything she was asked without complaining and was never late on an assignment.
“Why do you hate God?” Mrs Agnes finally broke the silence. The question took Lisa unaware but she smiled at it anyway.
“I don’t hate God”, Lisa replied. “You can’t hate what doesn’t exist”.
Mrs Agnes giggled. “How do you explain your existence then?” She wondered. “How do you explain human existence?”
“I have no answer to that”, Lisa replied. “but isn’t it absurd to think a super natural being made man from dust and breathed into his nostrils?”
“Absurd?” Agnes wondered. “But we become dust when we die”.
Lisa was silent.
“I think it is more absurd to think we evolved from apes”, Agnes went on. “Ever wondered why we have stopped evolving? We should have had wings by now”, she laughed.
“I don’t believe in that stupid evolution theory either”, Lisa admitted. “And I also do not believe in the big bang theory”.
Agnes leaned forward. “Then what do you believe in?” She wondered.
“Myself”, Lisa replied. “And I believe there is a mystery behind human existence and that mystery is not an Imaginary God who was so active 600 years ago, that is if you take biblical accounts seriously. But has disappeared since the invention of cameras”.
“Lisa, you…”
“Your religion has a lot of loopholes Mrs Agnes”, Lisa cut her short. “God could put an end to the debate of his existence by appearing to all of us, but fails to do so. Claims he is a loving God but has murdered lots of people in the past, including children. Says he is loving and yet there are so many starving children in the world and natural disasters like earth quakes that has taken so many innocent lives. Says we have freewill but yet we are still predestined.” Lisa leaned forward to a confused looking Agnes. “God is your loving father”, she giggled almost in a whisper, “But if you tell a lie and die this moment, you are going to burn in a lake of fire for all eternity. What kind of a psychotic father does that?” she leaned back and crossed her legs. “Even if he is real, I wouldn’t want to serve someone like that”.
Agnes gave a sly smile. She knew she had been defeated and Lisa loved to shut dumb Christian folks up and she was glad she had done it again. “I am happy Lisa”, Agnes said after a brief silence. “Hard heartened unbelievers usually make great Christians when they finally see the light like Paul did”, she said.
“You are the one in Darkness Mrs Agnes”, Lisa replied. “I have seen the light a long time ago”.
They were interrupted by Dr Beatrice walking the commissioner for works, Mr Wilson Omozuwa out of her big sitting room. They were chatting and laughing as Mrs Agnes and Lisa sprang to their feet in respect.
“Grandma!” Daniel screamed as he ran to hug her.
“My Big Boy!” She laughed.
“Is this Ehimen’s son?” The Minister wondered. “He really has the Ehiaghe face”.
“Of course he does”, Dr Beatrice agreed.
“Good day Mother”, Lisa greeted her mother in-law. “Good day honourable commissioner”, she greeted him and Mrs Agnes did the same.
“Is this your daughter in-law?” The commissioner wondered with an outstretched hand which she gleefully received. “You are so young and already president of Clay World?”
“All thanks to my mother in-law”, Lisa quickly responded. She knew Dr Beatrice loved to take the glory, so she was willing to give everything to her.
“She totally deserves it”, her mother in-law responded. “She has a brilliant mind”.
“Our leaders of tomorrow”, Mr Wilson giggled as he walked out of the house with Dr Beatrice beside him and Daniel closely grabbing her hand.
They had to wait for her to return and Lisa saw that as an opportunity to confuse Agnes a little bit more. “Have you heard of the omnipotence paradox?” Lisa asked when they were seated and Agnes shook her head. “If you can solve this paradox, you just might be able to win me over to Christianity”, she smiled.
“Go ahead”, Agnes urged her on but she could see fear in the old lady’s eyes already.
“Omnipotent means God can do all things”, Lisa began. “Can God create a problem that he cannot solve?” She asked and Agnes was silent. “If he can create a problem that he cannot solve, then he isn’t omnipotent, because he has created one thing he cannot do. But if he cannot create a problem that he cannot solve then he is also not omnipotent because that is another thing he cannot do. or better still, can your God make a stone so big he cannot carry?” she smiled. “Solve this paradox and I just might become a Christian”.
Dr Beatrice showed up again with a smile on her face and her grandson holding tightly to her left hand. “I am so sorry I kept you both waiting”, she apologized. “Agnes”, she called, “you will have to wait a while longer”, she instructed. “I won’t spend up to a minute with the president”, she promised and Agnes had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Dr Beatrice led her daughter in-law and grandson into the big sitting room and he ran across to watch the aquarium. “Please sit”, Dr Beatrice requested and Lisa duly complied. “Revelations Ministries”, she began. “How far have you gone?”
“We are still reviewing the contract Mother”, she replied. “but Efosa and his team have gotten to work. They are working on series of designs and they will be ready by next week”.
“Good”, she nodded. “This is your first major project as president…”
“And we will deliver Mother”. Lisa promised.
“I know you will”, Dr Beatrice smiled. “Your first assignment is to build a church! How do you feel about that?”
“it is business”, Lisa replied. “it is just like building any other house”.
“But this is the House of God”, the former senator cut in. “Not just a house. Plus the general overseer of Revelations Ministries is my very good friend. So give your best”.
“I will mother”.
Dr Beatrice got up. “One more thing”, she said and Lisa had a feeling that was the reason she was summoned. “I heard you put an end to morning prayers in the office”.
She took a deep breath. “I did”.
“Why?”
“Praying in the office is unprofessional”, she replied. “If you want to pray, go to the church. The office is for work not prayers”.
“This is my company” Dr Beatrice reminded her. “I am a Christian and making you president doesn’t give you the right to spread your atheist agenda!”
“I am not doing that”, Lisa argued. “I have had a dozen interviews since becoming president and not once have I mentioned that I am an atheist because I know you have a reputation to protect. But praying when we should be working, I will not accept. That is totally eating into our efficiency time”.
Dr Beatrice frowned. “I put too much trust in you”, she said almost in a whisper. She walked up to the chair Lisa sat and sat beside her. “I love you Lisa”, she confessed. “But I love Itohan too. I once loved Mr Lucky but see what I did when they crossed me”. She placed her right hand on Lisa’s shoulder and the president felt a chill run through her spine. “I believe in you so I am putting the fate of my company and the reputation of my personality in your hands. Do not disappoint me”, she warned. “Because if you do, just know you don’t have a God to save you”.
Lisa’s heart skipped a bit.
This chapter was edited by Glory Uwanna Kenneth.
Note: who ever has a good explanation or whoever can solve the omnipotence paradox should contact any CORE BLOG staff. We have a super gift for you.
Chapter six titled "Big sister, Little sister" will be posted on Monday, 3rd of October to celebrate our independence. While chapter seven titled "Belief systems" will be posted next week Friday. Stay in touch.
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