23rd November 2012
“Since the masses of the people are inconstant, full of unruly desires, passionate, and reckless of consequences, they must be filled with fears to keep them in order. The ancients did well, therefore, to invent gods, and the belief in punishment after death.”
Polybius203 – 120 BCE
November 23rd, 2012 at 16:25
Isn’t it nice to see that the ancients were cognizant of the actual role of religion in their societies? Now, if we could only teach a civil religion of citizenship that would preclude the need for hell fire to keep ’em in line.
November 23rd, 2012 at 18:06
For consideration for the Mark Twain Prize in another 20 years, I submit the following quote from Richard Jeni:
It is a sad fact that 50 percent of marriages in this country end in divorce. But hey, the other half end in death. You could be one of the lucky ones!