1. What is the danger of Sagan using a rhetorical question at the end of the first paragraph, especially considering that he has mentioned “traditional religions” earlier on?
A rhetorical question, commonly asked to make a statement rather than an argument, extracts a casual "yes" from the reader, as they agree to something obvious. However, Sagan disregards the common use of the literary device to bluntly state his personal opinion and belittle the beliefs of all religions. As most people are devotees of a certain faith, his statement is prone to distaste. He takes it upon himself to demean age old views, while simultaneously offering a fresh perspective. Sagan's accusation of people