Two Months Later: It Is Hard to Judge

Skeptic was reading when his son came over and said, “Dad! Our religious studies teacher, Mr. Believer, said that according to Muslims, God has created a hell to punish sinners, where they are made to drink a scalding beverage called Hamim.”

Skeptic looked at his son in surprise and asked, “What exactly did Mr. Believer say?”

His son replied, “In hell, there’s a drink—”

Skeptic interrupted him. “No, no... I don’t mean that part. I mean the beginning. You said your teacher said, ‘According to Muslims...’?”

His son said, “Yes. He said, ‘According to Muslims, God has created a hell to punish—’”

Again, Skeptic interrupted him. “Wait. Please answer my question exactly. Did he say, ‘God has created a hell to punish sinners, where such-and-such happens,’ or did he say, ‘According to Muslims, God has created a hell to punish sinners, where such-and-such happens’?”

His son thought for a moment and said, “Mr. Believer said, ‘According to Muslims...’ I mean, he always says things like, ‘According to Muslims, this is so,’ and ‘According to Muslims, that is so...’”

Skeptic stared at a corner of the room for a few moments. Then he turned to his son and asked, “Has he always said ‘according to Muslims,’ or has he only started saying it recently?”

His son paused for a moment, then shrugged, indicating that he couldn’t remember.

Skeptic lowered his head and quietly said to himself, “Well... if we’re being charitable, that in itself is a step forward. Our friend hasn’t lost his integrity after all. Perhaps if I were in his place, I wouldn’t have done anything differently.”

Then he looked his son in the eyes and said, “It’s hard to judge.”

His son looked puzzled. “What are you talking about, Dad?!”

Skeptic said, “Nothing...”

Then he continued, “All right... tell me what you were going to say.”