Religion and meaning in a godless cosmos is a recurring idea.It is clear that Pale Blue Dot is partly a philosophical and theological book. It aims to show that the universe was not made for humans or even made by an intelligence at all. Sagan is interested in dispelling religious belief because he thinks it impedes human scientific and social progress. Religion gives us a comforting lie that helps us maintain our self-importance and prevent us from facing the fact that the universe doesn't care about us. On Sagan's view, religion must be displaced for mankind to reach the next stage in its evolution.