the world is an act of faith. scientists weigh galaxies and piece together our universe but always come up short. hyperspace finds us wanting. we can only account for ten percent. the last ninety is dark matter. false hope. something you just have to trust exists.

and people can feel that - even the non-science folk. even the kids in trailer parks who lend no thought to the sky. they can feel that we're just counting on our galaxies not to fall apart and that there is a force out there restricting the stars, holding them back so they don't escape. they can sense the flaw of our own arrogance and the nasty intentions of our solar system. they feel it and they fear it and they start casting about for answers, for something that can meet their stare levelly and protect them with strong arms and big hands. they grope around and find religion. no matter which one - no matter if it's allah or buddah or loa or jesus who's saving them. no matter. they grope around and find religion. the answer. the belief. the faith. that's all religion is. it accounts for that. for the dark matter and the restrained stars. it makes promises people can cling to. it writes it down.