Чужак в чужой стране

           Well,Jubalwasn’tsurethathedid,either–hehadlongagomadeapactwithhimselftopostulateaCreatedUniverseoneven-numbereddays,atail-swallowingeternal-and-uncreatedUniverseonodd-numbereddays–sinceeachhypothesis,whileequallyparadoxical,neatlyavoidedtheparadoxesoftheother–with,ofcourse,adayoffeachleapyearforsheersolipsistdebauchery.Havingthustabledanunanswerablequestionhehadgivennothoughttoitformorethanageneration.

           JubaldecidedtotrytoexplainthewholeideaofreligioninitsbroadestsenseandthentacklethenotionofDeityandItsaspectslater.

           Mikereadilyagreedthatlearningscameinvarioussizes,fromlittlelearningsthatevenanestlingcouldgrokonuptogreatlearningswhichonlyanOldOnecouldgrokinperfectfullness.ButJubal’sattempttodrawalinebetweensmalllearningsandgreatlearningssothat"greatlearnings"wouldhavethehumanmeaningof"religiousquestions"wasnotsuccessful,assomereligiousquestionsdidnotseemtoMiketobequestionswithanymeaningtothem(suchas"Creation")andothersseemedtohimtobe"little"questions,withobviousanswersknowneventonestlings–suchaslifeafterdeath.

           Jubalwasforcedtoletitgoatthatandpassedontothemultiplicityofhumanreligions.Heexplained(ortriedtoexplain)thathumanshadhundredsofdifferentwaysbywhichthese"greatlearnings"weretaught,eachwithitsownanswersandeachclaimingtobethetruth.

           "Whatis‘truth’?"Mikeasked.