ATHEIST | The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

ATHEIST

Now, after a while, they perceived afar off, one coming softly along the highway to meet them.

Then Christian said to his fellow, “Yonder is a man with his back toward the Celestial City, and he is coming to meet us.”

HOPEFUL: “I see him. Let us be careful now—lest he should prove to be a flatterer also.”

So the man drew nearer and nearer, and at last came up to them. His name was Atheist, and he asked them where they were going.

CHRISTIAN: “We are going to the Celestial City.”

Then Atheist burst into laughter.

CHRISTIAN: “What is the meaning of your laughter?”

ATHEIST: “I laugh because I see what ignorant people you are—to take so tedious a journey, and yet are likely to gain nothing for your travel but pains.”

CHRISTIAN: “Why do you think we shall not be received?”

ATHEIST: “Received! There is no such place as you dream of in all this world!”

CHRISTIAN: “That is true—but there is in the world to come.”

ATHEIST: “When I was at home in my own country, I heard of that place which you speak of. So I went out to find it—and have been seeking this City for these past twenty years; but I have not found it in all this time!”

CHRISTIAN: “We have both heard and believe that there is such a place to be found!”

ATHEIST: “Had not I, when at home, also believed—I would not have come thus far to seek it. If there had been such a place, I would have surely found it by now—for I have gone much further than you. So not finding it, I am going back home again, and will seek the pleasures which I had then cast away—for the vain hope of a world to come.”

Then Christian said to Hopeful, “Do you think that what this man has said is true?”

HOPEFUL: “Take heed—he is one of the flatterers! Remember what it has cost us once already for our hearkening to such a fellow. What! No Celestial City? Did we not see, from the Delectable Mountains, the gate of the City? Also, we are now to walk by faith. Let us go on, lest the man with the whip overtake us again.

“You should have taught me that lesson, which I will now remind you of: ‘Do not listen to any advice which would lead you to stray from the words of knowledge.’ I say, my brother—do not listen to him—but let us believe to the saving of our souls!”

CHRISTIAN: “My brother, I did not ask the question of you, because I doubted the truth myself—but to test you, and to hear your heartfelt response. As for this man, I know that he is blinded by the god of this world. Let us go on, knowing that we believe the truth, and that no lie is of the truth.”

HOPEFUL: “Now I rejoice in the hope of the glory of God!”

So they turned away from the man—and he, laughing at them, went on his way back home.