It’s always exciting to begin a conversation with someone you haven’t met before. It doesn’t happen frequently, but when it does, there’s always something to learn.

Of course, it helps if you’re well-matched with the other person you’re conversing with. That was not the case when a cowboy and an atheist crossed paths on a flight. What began as a typical chat rapidly took on a negative tone. It’s a good thing the cowboy utilized all of his knowledge to silence the unbeliever.” An atheist sat next to a dusty old cowboy on an aircraft and asked him, “Do you want to talk?” Flights go faster if you start a discussion with your fellow traveler.

The elderly cowboy, who had just begun reading his book, responded to the complete stranger, “What would you like to talk about?” ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ the atheist said. ‘What about why there is no God, Heaven, Hell, or life after death?’ he asked, smiling smugly. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘Those might be intriguing topics, but first I’ll ask you a question.

A horse, cow, and deer all consume the same thing: grass. However, a deer excretes little pellets, a cow makes a flat patty, and a horse generates clumps. Why do you think that is? The atheist, apparently shocked by the old cowboy’s knowledge, pauses and replies, “Hmmm, I have no idea.” The cowboy responds, ‘Do you really feel competent to talk about God, Heaven, and Hell, or life beyond death when you don’t know crap?”