Three scientists \u2014 Papaia, Banani, and Ravioli \u2014 and their assistant Igor, who work at NASAL, begin to take an interest in creationism. Alarmed, their superiors send them to a psychologist, Professor Faggioli \u2014 a shady character determined to get them fired by making them seem insane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are in Professor Faggioli\u2019s office, where Ravioli is undergoing evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s get to the point, Dr. Ravioli. Your colleagues claim you\u2019ve expressed… sympathy for creationist ideas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is that true?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well… it depends on what you mean by \u201ccreationist.\u201d Like, the universe had a beginning\u2026 and everything that has a beginning also has a cause\u2026 and without the universe, and without a Creator, there would be nothing\u2026 because nothing comes from nothing\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stop that immediately! We don\u2019t care where the universe comes from. We care about confirming the Big Bang!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, yes! The Big Bang! I believe in it, I do! I\u2019m not saying an explosion builds things…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You know very well, Ravioli, that it\u2019s not just a simple explosion… you should know that better than me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ah, right! There\u2019s dark matter… antimatter… never found! But someday… who knows?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you questioning the model?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No, no! How could you think that, Professor?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Big Bang is true because scientists and textbooks say it is! Are you, by any chance, questioning Nobel Prize winners? Hmm?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Scared) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No, no, no! Of course not, Professor! I\u2019d never dare!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you sure, Ravioli? Who are you to question? You\u2019re NOBODY!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli jumps in his seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course! I\u2019m nobody!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that book of yours? The one you talk about to everyone? The one with the five facts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, yes… maybe I\u2019ve mentioned it a bit… but it\u2019s because I find it so… how can I put it… crazy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crazy, huh? And why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because it presents five historical facts: the crucifixion of Jesus… the fact that the disciples were sincerely convinced they had seen him risen in the flesh… the early creeds of oral tradition, like the one in 1 Corinthians 15:3-7, affirming Jesus\u2019 divinity, death, and resurrection, and dated just a few years after his death… then Paul\u2019s conversion, a former Church persecutor who claimed to have seen the risen Jesus with his own eyes… and James, Jesus\u2019 brother, who went from skeptic to leader of the Jerusalem Church and eventually died for his faith… <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, the resurrection is the only explanation that accounts for all five facts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crazy, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, yes, and you fall for it like a fool! Who said that? Some preacher?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, actually it\u2019s what the critics say. I mean, liberal scholars \u2014 the ones who don\u2019t believe in supernatural events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wait\u2026 are you saying these facts are accepted even by critics?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exactly! Not only do they not believe in Jesus… they actively look for errors and contradictions in the Bible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exactly! And you fall for it like an amateur! They use the Bible to prove the Bible! It\u2019s a vicious circle, Ravioli!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No, no! There are also external sources, and mainstream scholars analyze the New Testament like any other biased historical text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re telling me the material comes from scholars who don\u2019t believe?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exactly! These scholars hold to a naturalistic position, but regardless of their personal beliefs, they\u2019re forced to acknowledge the five facts because of the sheer amount of historical evidence!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So you’re saying that even if the Bible is full of errors, it doesn’t matter\u2026 because that doesn’t invalidate the five facts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exactly! But, just to be clear\u2026 I don\u2019t actually believe any of this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Interested) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Really?\u2026 To me\u2026 it actually sounds like a pretty convincing argument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Surprised) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Really?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes. Why not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want\u2026 I can lend you the book…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli rummages in his lab coat pocket, pulls out the book, and offers it to Faggioli. The latter snatches it violently from his hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aha! Gotcha, Ravioli! And I\u2019m confiscating this book right now! Your superiors upstairs will find this very interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oops\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Ravioli, you must stick to conventions! You can\u2019t go around thinking about these things! These creationist statements are outright rebellion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAVIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uh… really?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And do you know what we do to rebels, Tony?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Faggioli pulls out a worn-out sock and starts moving it like a puppet.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TONY (Faggioli\u2019s voice) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We get them\u2026 FIRED! Ah ah ah! FIRED!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IGOR <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faggioli claims NASAL fires anyone who believes in the supernatural\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I don\u2019t think that\u2019s quite the case\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Honestly, instead of Ravioli\u2019s book, Faggioli should show his superiors Tony!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His imaginary friend!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n