Take an instance: the removal of the motto [In God We…
![“Take an instance: the removal of the motto [In God We Trust] fetched out a clamor from the pulpit; little groups and small conventions of clergymen gathered themselves together all over the country, and one of these little groups, consisting of twenty-two ministers, put up a prodigious assertion…” quote by Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/500/mark-twain-22_christian-community_take-an-instance-the-removal-of-the-mott_486242.png)
““Take an instance: the removal of the motto [In God We Trust] fetched out a clamor from the pulpit; little groups and small conventions of clergymen gathered themselves together all over the country, and one of these little groups, consisting of twenty-two ministers, put up a prodigious assertion unbacked by any quoted statistics and passed it unanimously in the form of a resolution: the assertion, to wit, that this is a Christian country. Why, Carnegie, so is hell. Those clergymen know that, inasmuch as "Strait is the way and narrow is the gate, and few — few — are they that enter in thereat" has had the natural effect of making hell the only really prominent Christian community in any of the worlds; but we don't brag of this and certainly it is not proper to brag and boast that America is a Christian country when we all know that certainly five-sixths of our population could not enter in at the narrow gate.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Twain satirizes the claim that America is a Christian nation, noting that religious rhetoric often masks deeper contradictions and that many citizens would not meet strict biblical standards.
In simple terms: He mocks the idea that America is a Christian country, pointing out its hypocrisy.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about national identity and religious labels.
Themes
religion
national identity
hypocrisy
politics
culture
Mood
skeptical
ironic
critical
Type
satirical
political
When to use this quote
- political debates
- religious gatherings
- media commentary
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
American identity
Christianity
public discourse
moral standards
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean for a nation to be "Christian"?
- How do religious symbols influence public policy?
A Different Perspective
The argument oversimplifies complex religious diversity and ignores secular perspectives.