The Man in the Moon is in fact a record of ancient catastrophes--most of which took place before humans, before mammals, and probably even before life arose on Earth. It is a characteristic conceit of our species to put a human face on random cosmic violence.

Carl Sagan
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The Man in the Moon is in fact a record of ancient catastrophes--most of which took place before humans, before mammals, and probably even before life arose on Earth. It is a characteristic conceit of our species to put a human face on random cosmic violence. Indeed, the moon has often struck us as a symbol of human folly. For example, some people believe that the cause of "The Man in the Moon" is due to an ancient cult of lunar worshippers who were punished for their religious beliefs. But the most commonly cited explanation is that it's caused by an ancient cult of lunar worshippers who were punished for their religious beliefs.

Source: The Demonhaunted World: Science As A Candle In The Dark

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