The Prof.'s office. He is walking up and down as he dictates to his secretary.

PROF. “... And so from the scientific viewpoint, no evidence can be tendered as fundamental proof of the existence of God. The chemist is concerned with the origin and effect of chemical substances in all the three states of matter, solid, liquid and gas on the material world. Furthermore, he is concerned with the explanation of the underlying principles behind these phenomena with the ultimate aim of exercising control over them. However, it must be noted that neither in the mixing of gases with gases, oxygen with nitrogen, carbon dioxide with monoxide, nor in any experimentation involving acids has any evidence been extracted to support the existence of an omnipotent and immanent God beyond all spatio-temporal events. Rather, all these experiments conducted in the realm of natural sciences help to disprove the existence of such a being.” (Pauses)

Now let me hear the last part of the paper.

SECRETARY: "Moreover, it must be noted that neither in the mixing of gases with gases, oxygen with nitrogen, carbon dioxide with monooxide, nor in any experimentation involving acids has any evidence been extracted to support the existence of an omnipotent and immanent God beyond all spatio-temporal events. Rather, these experiments conducted in the realm of natural sciences help to disprove the existence of such a being." That's all, sir.

PROF.: Very well, continue. “In addition to these scientific refutations, the notion of God’s creativity and his wisdom are logically incompatible. Whenever one reads in the Old Testament about the Great Flood, one cannot but wonder at the wisdom of the so-called all-wise God. Indeed, God can be compared to a genius builder who spent the better part of his life constructing one magnificent building. Having completed his life-long project, he inspected it and found it very pleasing to the eye. .Then he poured petrol on it and set it ablaze. As in the case of this great builder, one cannot but wonder at the wisdom of a God who created the world only to destroy it again with a flood of water. In conclusion, it will be observed that all claims for the existence of God are nothing but myths with no factual, empirically verifiable evidence. And all hypotheses that purport to ratify the existence of God through scientific means constitute nothing but scientific illusions.” (Pauses)

Go and type that. Let me have it as soon as possible.

SECRETARY: (Goes then turns back at the door). Excuse me, sir.

PROF.: Any problem?

SECRETARY: Em... not quite, sir. But I do hope that you don't really believe there's no God.

PROF.: Of course, I don't believe in God.

SECRETARY: Beware of pride, Prof. The Bible says that pride goeth before a fall. Satan has blinded your eyes with the lies that you're the master of your own destiny. Please, Prof., accept Christ into your life. Acknowledge him as your Lord and Saviour, and he will not only bless you with eternal life, but he will also supply all your needs materially, spiritually and financially.

PROF.: (Sarcastically.) Thank you, Mister Born Again. When I need your opinion on the subject, I will ask for it. Until then, kindly keep your mouth shut!

SECRETARY: I'm only concerned about you, Prof. The Bible says we're in the last days, and Christ may come back any moment from now. If you don't give your life to Christ now, when the rapture happens it will be too late. You will spend eternity in hell fire!

PROF.: (Gets up angrily.) Get out, you brainless biped. Religion is the opium of the poor and I don't believe in it. I'm an atheist and will die an atheist. Now scram!

(Exit secretary, enter Latunji.)

LATUNJI: Hi, Prof.

PROF.: Hello, Lat. Come in.

LATUNJI: Hope I'm not disturbing you?

PROF.: No, no. Please sit down.

LATUNJI: (Sitting.) How's work?

PROF.: Not bad. I've just finished dictating the paper I intend to present at the seminar next week.

LATUNJI: The one about God and the academic?

PROF.: That's right. Are you presenting a paper?

LATUNJI: No, Prof. The subject of God is too deep for me to contemplate. But if the title could be changed to, "Women and the artist”, then I would be a most active participant!

PROF.: Laaaatunj! Ah, it is women that will kill you.

LATUNJI: Quite wrong, Prof. It is I who will see the end of women! (Laughter)

Talking of women, how far have you gone in the execution of your plan?

PROF.: Well, the students are just returning from the Christmas holiday. So my plan is still at the rudimentary stage. However, I shall send a message to Elizabeth right now asking her to see me in my office at ten tonight.

LATUNJI: That's very good, Prof.! To hesitate at the beginning is to act too late.

PROF.: Quite right, Lat. Messenger! Messenger!

MESSENGER: (Entering.) Sir?

PROF.: Do you know Miss Owojori?

MESSENGER: Yes, sir.

PROF.: You know her room?

MESSENGER: No, sir.

PROF.: She stays in room forty-eight, Yemoja Hall. You will go to her room right now and tell her to meet me in the office at ten tonight. Tell her it’s about her major course in chemistry.

MESSENGER: Very well, Oga.

(Exit messenger.)

PROF.: Well, that's that. Now Lat, where shall we eat this afternoon? It's past two, you know?

LATUNJI: I always eat at the White House, Prof.

PROF.: Let's go there then.

(Exit both)