Religion in the United States

Religion in the United States is characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. A majority of Americans report that religion plays a very important role in their lives, a proportion unique among developed countries. Freedom of religion in the United States is guaranteed in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Quotes

• Brother, the Great Spirit has made us all, but He has made a great difference between His white and His red children. He has given us different complexions and different customs. To you He has given the arts. To these He has not opened our eyes. We know these things to be true. Since He has made so great a difference between us in other things, why may we not conclude that He has given us a different religion according to our understanding? The Great Spirit does right. He knows what is best for His children; we are satisfied. Brother, we do not wish to destroy your religion or take it from you. We only want to enjoy our own. ... Brother, we are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest, and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what you have said.
  Brother, you have now heard our answer to your talk, and this is all we have to say at present. As we are going to part, we will come and take you by the hand, and hope the Great Spirit will protect you on your journey and return you safe to your friends.
  • Red Jacket, as quoted in The World’s Famous Orations, vol. 8 (1906), "Red Jacket on the Religion of the White Man and the Red", speech delivered at a council of chiefs of the Six Nations in the summer of 1805 after Mr. Cram, a missionary, had spoken of the work he proposed to do among them.

• Oh! this old time religion, ...
  It is good enough for me.
  • "Old-Time Religion", in Gustavus D. Pike, The Jubilee Singers (1873), item 198

• Rust Cohle: What do you think the average IQ of this group is, huh?
  Marty Hart: Can you see Texas up there on your high horse? What do you know about these people?
  Rust Cohle: Just observation and deduction. I see a propensity for obesity. Poverty. A yen for fairy tales. Folks puttin' what few bucks they do have into a little wicker basket being passed around. I think it's safe to say nobody here's gonna be splitting the atom, Marty.
  Marty Hart: You see that. Your fucking attitude. Not everybody wants to sit alone in an empty room beating off to murder manuals. Some folks enjoy community. A common good.
  Rust Cohle: Yeah, well if the common good's gotta make up fairy tales, then it's not good for anybody.
  • Detective Rustin "Rust" Cohle as interpreted by Matthew McConaughey, and Detective Martin "Marty" Hart as interpreted by Woody Harrelson in True Detective, "The Locked Room", written by Nic Pizzolatto, (January 26, 2014)

External links

• Encyclopedic article on Religion in the United States on Wikipedia