He went on talking after a moment’s reflection.
“It’s as if we were hypnotized and couldn’t get away from mean things, beastly suspicions, and stale quarrels. I suppose we are still half apes. I suppose our brains set too easily and rapidly. I suppose it’s easy to quarrel yet and still hard to understand. We take to jealousy and bitterness as ducklings take to water. Think of that stale, dusty procession away there!”
Oswald’s old dream vision of the dark forest came back to his mind. “Is there no way out, Peter?” he said.
“If some great idea would take hold of the world!” said Peter....
“There have been some great ideas,” said Oswald....
“If it would take hold of one’s life,” Peter finished his thought....
“There has been Christianity,” said Oswald.
“Christianity!” Peter pointed at the distant mist that was Dublin. “Sour Protestants,” he said, “and dirty priests setting simple people by the ears.”
“But that isn’t true Christianity.”
“There isn’t true Christianity,” said Peter compactly....