Mark Twain
The Damned Human Raced
Man is the Religious Animal. He is the only Religious Animal. He is the only animal that has the True Religion--several of them. He is the only animal that loves his neighbor as himself and cuts his throat if his theology isn't straight. He has made a graveyard of the globe in trying his honest best to smooth his brother's path to happiness and heaven. He was at it in the time of the Caesars, he was at in Mahomet's time, he was at it in the time of the Inquisition, he was at it in France a couple of centuries ago, he was at in England in Mary's day, he has been at it ever since he first saw the light, he is at it today in Crete--as per the telegrams quoted above--he will be at it somewhere else tomorrow. The higher animals have no religion. And we are told that they are going to be left out, in the Hereafter. I wonder why? It seems questionable taste. (The Damned Human Race)