disbelieve in something akin to a God. It just seemed that if God did exist, he was going to great lengths to keep me away from him.

Not that I’m bitter.

“Faith,” Randy said, the padding of his seat squeaking as he sat back, raising his voice as if he were quoting some great philosopher, “is just the acceptance of ignorance.” He looked to me as if he expected my agreement on the issue.

“In ancient times,” I started, seeing Alan’s face light up and Randy’s droop in disappointment, “it was difficult to know who the father of a child really was if the woman was suspected of being unfaithful. Men were allowed whores and concubines and it didn’t matter if they whelped children with them, but if a high-born girl step...

Please subscribe to keep reading.