"Andrew On Prostitutes" 
by Gibran Khalil Gibran 

GOD AND MANY GODS

In the city of Kilafis a sophist stood on the steps of th Temple and preached many gods.
And the people said in their hearts, "We know all this. Do they not live with us and
follow us wherever we go?" Not long after, another man stood in the market place and
spoke unto the people and said, "There is no god." And many who heard him were glad
of his tidings, for they were afraid of gods. 

And upon another day there came a man of great eloquence, an he said, "There is but
one God." And now the people were dismayed for in their hearts they feared the
judgment of one God more than that of many gods. 

That same season there came yet another man, and he said to the people, "There are
three gods, and they dwell upon the wind as one, and they have a vast and gracious
mother who is also their mate and their sister." 

Then everyone was comforted, for they said in their secret, "three gods in one must
needs disagree over our failings, and besides, their gracious mother will surely be an
advocate for us poor weaklings." Yet even to this day there are those in the city of
Kilafis who wrangle and argue with each other about many gods and no god, and one
god and three gods in one, and a gracious mother of gods.