Atheist in the Woods

An atheist was walking through the woods.

"What majestic tree!"
"What powerful rivers!"
"What beautiful animals!"
He said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He saw a 7 foot grizzly bear charge toward him. He looked over shoulder again and the bear was even closer. He tripped and fell to the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him.

At that instant the atheist cried out "Oh my God!"

Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of th sky.

"You deny my existance for all these years, teach others that I don't exist, and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I now to count you as a believer in God?"

The atheist looked directly into the light. "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a believer in God, but perhaps you could make the bear a believer in You."

"Very well," said the voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, and brought both paws together, bowed his head and spoke "Please God bless this food I am about to receive from You, Amen."