Chapter 23

           JubalhadbeentryingtowarnMikeallthewaytochurch;ofwhat,Mikewasnotcertain.Hehadlistened,healwayslistened–butthelandscapebelowthemtuggedforattention,too;hehadcompromisedbystoringwhatJubalsaid."Nowlook,boy,"Jubalhadadmonished,"theseFosteritesareafteryourmoney.That’sallright,mosteverybodyisafteryourmoney;youjusthavetobefirm.YourmoneyandtheprestigeofhavingtheManfromMarsjointheirchurch.They’regoingtoworkonyou–andyouhavetobefirmaboutthat,too."

           "Begpardon?"

           "Damnit,Idon’tbelieveyou’vebeenlistening."

           "Iamsorry,Jubal."

           "Well?lookatitthisway.Religionisasolacetomanypeopleanditisevenconceivablethatsomereligion,somewhere,reallyisUltimateTruth.Butinmanycases,beingreligiousismerelyaformofconceit.TheBibleBeltfaithinwhichIwasbroughtupencouragedmetothinkthatIwasbetterthantherestoftheworld;Iwas‘saved’andtheywere‘damned’–wewereinastateofgraceandtherestoftheworldwere‘heathens’andby‘heathen’theymeantsuchpeopleasourbrotherMahmoud.Itmeantthatanignorant,stupidloutwhoseldombathedandplantedhiscornbythephaseoftheMooncouldclaimtoknowthefinalanswersoftheUniverse.Thatentitledhimtolookdownhisnoseateverybodyelse.