Religions of Error

Hearing a sound of strife, a Christian in the Orient asked his Dragoman about the cause of the disturbance.

"The Buddhists are cutting Mohammedan throats," the Dragoman replied with oriental composure.

"I did not know," remarked the Christian with scientific interest, "that such actions would make so much noise."

"The Mohammedans are cutting Buddhist throats, too," added the Dragoman.

"It is astonishing," mused the Christian, "how violent and widespread religious animosities are. Everywhere in the world, the devotees of each local faith abhor the followers of every other religion, and they refrain from murder only as long as they fear the consequences of their actions. The strangest thing about it is that all religions are erroneous and mischievous except for mine. Thank God, mine is true and benign."

So saying, he visibly smirked and went off to telegraph for a brigade of cutthroats to protect Christian interests.