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Are you born again?" he asked, as we taxied down the…

“Are you born again?" he asked, as we taxied down the runway. He was rather prim and tense, maybe a little like David Eisenhower with a spastic colon. I did not know how to answer for a moment. "Yes," I said. "I am." My friends like to tell each other that I am not really a born-again Christian…” quote by Anne LaMott
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““Are you born again?" he asked, as we taxied down the runway. He was rather prim and tense, maybe a little like David Eisenhower with a spastic colon. I did not know how to answer for a moment. "Yes," I said. "I am." My friends like to tell each other that I am not really a born-again Christian. They think of me more along the lines of that old Jonathan Miller routine, where he said, "I'm not really a Jew -- I'm Jew-ish." They think I am Christian-ish. But I'm not. I'm just a bad Christian. A bad born-again Christian. And certainly, like the apostle Peter, I am capable of denying it, of presenting myself as a sort of leftist liberation-theology enthusiast and maybe sort of a vaguely Jesusy bon vivant. But it's not true. And I believe that when you get on a plane, if you start lying you are totally doomed. So I told the truth; that I am a believer, a convert. I'm probably about three months away from slapping an aluminum Jesus-fish on the back of my car, although I first want to see if the application or stickum in any way interferes with my lease agreement. And believe me, all this boggles even *my* mind. But it's true. I could go to a gathering of foot-wash Baptists and, except for my dreadlocks, fit right in. I would wash their feet; I would let them wash mine.””

Anne LaMott

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator confesses to being a superficial believer, grappling with authenticity and the fear of being judged, while navigating personal identity and religious labels.

In simple terms: Struggling with genuine faith and self‑identity.

Key Takeaway

Embrace honest self‑reflection.

Themes

faith identity authenticity social perception humor

Mood

self‑critical lighthearted

Type

introspective humorous

When to use this quote

  • religious community
  • personal confession
  • identity exploration
  • social interaction

Key Concepts

theology psychology social conformity

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you feel pressure to fit a religious label?
  • How does humor help you confront identity conflicts?
A Different Perspective

Self‑labeling can mask deeper doubts, limiting true personal growth.

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