Without the letters of condolence, telegrams of congratulations and even occasional postcards, the friendship of a separated friend is not a social reality. It has no existence without the rites of friendship. Social rituals create a reality which would be nothing without them.

Hierarchy works well in a stable environment.

Every year the progress of advanced capitalist society makes our population consist of more and more isolates. This is because of the infrastructure of the economy, especially electronic communications.

I have increasingly, over the years, felt that religion today does our civilization more harm than good.

Some scholars have been arguing that a civilizational clash between organized religions is the next step in human history.

It is very reasonable to worry about the harm done by organized religion, and to prefer looser and more private arrangements.

Institutions have the pathetic megalomania of the computer whose whole vision of the world is its own program.