While political affiliation in the united States is not a…
![“While political affiliation in the united States is not a perfect indicator of religiosity, it is no secret that the 'red [Republican] states' are primarily red due to the overwhelming political influence of conservative Christians. If there were a strong correlation between Christian conservatism…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/b68/sam-harris-457_christianity_while-political-affiliation-in-the-unite_1512437.jpg)
““While political affiliation in the united States is not a perfect indicator of religiosity, it is no secret that the 'red [Republican] states' are primarily red due to the overwhelming political influence of conservative Christians. If there were a strong correlation between Christian conservatism and societal health, we might expect to see some sign of it in red-state America. We don't. Of the twenty-five cities with the lowest rates of violent crime, 62 percent are in 'blue' [Democrat] states, and 38 percent are in 'red' [Republican] states. Of the twenty-five most dangerous cities, 76 percent are in red states, and 24 percent are in blue states. In fact, three of the five most dangerous cities in the U.S. are in the pious state of Texas. The twelve states with the highest rates of burglary are red. Twenty-four of the twenty-nine states with the highest rates of theft are red. Of the twenty-two states with the highest reated or murder, seventeen are red.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Political affiliation does not reliably predict health outcomes; data shows violent crime correlates more with red states.
In simple terms: Red states have more crime, not because of religion.
Key Takeaway
Consider multiple factors in policy.
Themes
politics
health
crime statistics
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
informative
philosophical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- law enforcement
- community health programs
Key Concepts
sociology
public policy
Questions to Reflect On
- What underlying factors drive these differences?
- How can policy address root causes?
A Different Perspective
Correlation does not imply causation; other variables matter.