The Jew and the heretic: a dialogue

A Jew and a heretic are both brought in for interrogation by the Inquisition. They are in a waiting room together.

The heretic says, "So, are you with us?"

"I was wondering the same thing," says the Jew.

"I was denounced by my family," says the heretic, "because they think I'm with the rebels, and they're loyalists."

"Perhaps they don't really understand," says the Jew, "I'm sure if you explained your position well, and showed that you understand theirs, too...."

"That must be the difference between us," says the heretic.

"It's true," says the Jew, "we are almost never denounced by our own family members, because they know that what is done to me could have been done to them, or their fathers, or their fathers' fathers all the way back to Abraham."

"And what about the rebellion?"

"Oh," answers the Jew, "we don't want to change the government, but only to be allowed to leave for our own land."

"And is it really very different there?" wonders the heretic.

"Well, for us it is."

"And is that enough for you?"

"Here and now, yes. Tomorrow, who knows?"

"Good luck."

"We always have hope."

"Being a heretic usually means having less of such faith. We hope, but also fear."

"And we fear, but also hope."

"Maybe that's the difference between a religion and a mere politics--or a politics and a mere religion."

"Maybe we aren't so different," says the heretic.

"We are, but are we in this?" wonders the Jew.

"I don't know."

"I wonder if we can. Does it matter?"

"It matters to us," says the heretic, "though maybe you can leave. On the other hand, you're here, now, like me, and the next room is the torture chamber."