“prejudices arising from adherence to religious forms and imitation of ancestral beliefs” are like “mirage of imitations”

It is evident that prejudices arising from adherence to religious forms and imitation of ancestral beliefs have hindered the progress of humanity thousands of years. How many wars and battles have been fought, how much division, discord and hatred have been caused by this form of prejudice! But inasmuch as this century is a century of the revelation of reality -- praise be to God! -- the thoughts of men are being directed toward the welfare and unity of humanity. Daily the mirage of imitations is passing away, and the ocean of truth is surging more tumultuously. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given on 21 April 1912 in Washington D.C.) (To read the entire talk please visits Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)