“At least I’m honest about exploiting the poor who stay here. When I listen to preachers hammering the idea of paying to pray for salvation, it makes me wonder if this is any different from our pagan ancestors using religion for power. If selling religion is the goal, then what’s the difference whether people believe in Odin and the virgin fertility goddess Gefjun or in Jesus and the Virgin Mary?” Angry that I compared Christianity to paganism, he reached into his pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes. When I offered him a lighter, he put the cigarettes back in his pocket.
Apologetically, I remarked that he came to the roadside to relax and meditate, and I bombarded him with paganist ranting. He smiled and tapped me on the shoulder. “Freddie, the living Christ is more real to me than b
