'Is this Chikwe the atheist', she said in a manner meant to make me feel bad. I quickly brushed it off and shook the offered tender hands. She found a seat for herself beside her brother. I heard shuffling feet from the inner room. Someone was about to eavesdrop, I warned myself. I knew then the subject of my visit would be buried in the conversation that would follow.
'I read your facebook updates everyday. And I wonder how you can be so certain there is no God' she said. I didnt want to go there. I am always careful not to be accused of preaching atheism.
'Dont mind Chikwendu,' her brother said, trying to make her stop. But she woudnt.
'Who do you thank when something good happens to you?' She was relentless. A connecting door to the sitting room opened and their elder brother walked in.
'I have been hearing about you', he said. 'Its quite surprising that an Igbo man can take your position', he said lowering himself on a seat. His face was a mixture of anger and amusement.
'I understand you had a major operation. Hope you are fully recovered now?' I enquired. His brother, my friend was getting nervous. He knew I take no prisoners. And he knew I was fighting to resist the urge to be drawn into the conversation.
'Thank God, Am alive he said. Isnt it surprising that you say there is no God? Perhaps because you have not been in my situation before. Do you know how much it pains us who have had personal encounters and were touched by God when we hear or read people like you say there is no God? Do you even realize I had 2.1 in engineering and left the university many years before it was bastardized? You were in primary school then I presume. You need to have a rethink. Its really annoying hearing a supposedly educated person like you say there is no God. Perhaps its youthful exuberance.' I couldnt take it any longer.
'Bro, am glad you survived the operation. Alot of people die these days from little health challenges', I said, pulling him out.
'I need to show you photos of my operation. My skull was drilled open. For days, I was not in this world. I was turned off from the world. I was literally dead. But thank God, am alive!' he said raising his hands up in praise.
'I understand the operation was done in India', I said.
'Yes my brother. They have state of the art medical technology. Infact, the standard beats that of the West. Alot of Europeans and Americans now go to India to receive treatment. Its cost effective and reliable.' His brother and sister were not comfortable with the direction of the discussion. His brother knew where I was headed.
'Do you not think you could have done the operation in Nigeria at a lesser cost?' I asked.
'What! No no no. I dont want to die young' he said.
'And T.B. Joshua would have been most cost effective and efficient. Did you not remember T.B. Joshua or Umar Ukpa? Imagine the amount of money you spent in India! This men could have healed you free of charge!' I declared. He was getting infuriated. It began to dawn on him that I was subtly mocking him. I had to drive home the point.
'Bro, you are a hypocrit. You shouldnt have gone to India for the operation. It means you have no faith in God. You dont even believe in what you preach. You say one thing and you do another.'
'Chikwe...you dont understand. God doesnt work that way.'
'But you were claiming you had an encounter just now when you were actually saved by sayings in the hands of pagan Hindus.'
Well, our discussion ended afterwards. His sister contacted me a few days ago telling me she'd learnt alot and there is need to keep talking about science based facts/truths. Well, I am glad that my so called evengelical atheism has borne fruit.
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