When Narada, a great devotee was dying, God appeared to him. God asked him what he would like, if he had any desire to be fulfilled in the next life.

He said, "Yes, I want to be born an atheist."

Even God was puzzled. ( Remember, such things used to happen in the past; now they no longer happen). God said, ''What? You want to be atheist? Such a great devotee, such a believer, such a religious man who has been singing and singing my name?''

Narada said, "Yes, because although I am a devotee, I continuously go on forgetting you, but I have seen an atheist who never forgets you. That's why I want to be an atheist next time; so that I can remember you continuously. I don't want to forget you even for a single moment. Now, you are only one of the items of my mind, but for the atheist you seem to be his whole heart. Although each time he denies you, he remembers you. So just give me one blessing that I should be born an atheist so that I can talk about you continuously."

This story is beautiful. It says in a very symbolic way that the atheist and theist are not in different boats.