"Parable" by Emilie Aurora Finn

Once upon a time there were five old men. One was a Muslim, one was a Hindu, one was a Jew, one was a Christian, and one was an atheist. These five men were all great friends, but they were always arguing with one another about religion.

“My way is right,” said the Muslim.

“No, mine is the right way,” said the Hindu.

“You are both wrong,” said the Jew. “The Lord is the only God.”

“Jesus Christ is God,” the Christian said.

“There is no god,” scoffed the atheist.

After several years, the time came for the five men to die.

“Now we will see Allah and the Prophet,” said the Muslim, his eyes shining.

“We will become one with Brahman and see the Mahadevas,” the Hindu responded.

“God is lord of all,” said the Jew. “It is only him we will see.”

“We will see Jesus,” the Christian said flatly.

“We won’t see anyone,” laughed the atheist. “We’ll be dead.”

And so they died. When they reached the light of heaven, all of them cried out.

“Look! There is Allah!” cried the Muslim.

The Hindu said, “There are the Mahadevas!”

The Jew said, “There is the Lord God!”

And the Christian said, “There’s Christ!”

But the atheist looked around and said, “Where?”