"The most ridiculous concept ever perpetrated by H.Sapiens is that the
Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of the Universes, wants the sacharrine
adoration of his creations, that he can be persuaded by their prayers, and
becomes petulant if he does not recieve this flattery. Yet this ridiculous
notion, without one real shred of evidence to bolster it, has gone on to
found one of the oldest, largest and least productive industries in history."
[Lazarus Long, from "Time Enough For Love" by R. Heinlein]