From what I've read," I said to him, "the world goes crazy every three or four decades. The trick is to survive until it goes sane again. - Octavia E. Butler

All religions are ultimately cargo cults.
Adherents perform required rituals, follow
specific rules, and expect to be supernaturally
gifted with desired rewards—long life,
honor, wisdom, children, good health, wealth,
victory over opponents, immortality after
death, any desired rewards.

I got up to leave. There was nothing more to be said. He had asked for what he knew I could not give, and I had refused.

So he had locked her in the closet. Some of his people, ignorant and fearful, could not quite believe her illness was not contagious. Badger locked her away from them for her own safety. She had seen for herself how eager they were to get her out of their sight.