The Bonfire of the Vanities

p. 50

Sherman McCoy, the affluent bond salesman, to his six-year-old daughter who is worried that God might not exist: ”But there is a God, sweetie. So I can’t tell you about ‘If there isn’t.’” Sherman tried never to lie to her. But this time he felt it the prudent course. He had hoped he would never have to discuss religion with her. They had begun sending her to Sunday School at St. James Episcopal Church at Madison and Seventy-First. That was the way you took care of religion. You enrolled them at St. James’, and you avoided talking or thinking about religion again.”