--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the first time in our history…" description: "\"For the first time in our history, ideology and theology hold a monopoly of power in Washington.\" — Bill Moyers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/bill-moyers-2625_first-time_for-the-first-time-in-our-history-ideolo_2166674.png" --- # For the first time in our history, ideology and theology… ![“For the first time in our history, ideology and theology hold a monopoly of power in Washington.” quote by Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/bill-moyers-2625_first-time_for-the-first-time-in-our-history-ideolo_2166674.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/bill-moyers-2625_first-time_for-the-first-time-in-our-history-ideolo_2166674.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/bill-moyers-2625_first-time_for-the-first-time-in-our-history-ideolo_2166674.png) > “For the first time in our history, ideology and theology hold a monopoly of power in Washington.” [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power in Washington is dominated by ideological and religious forces, limiting secular governance. **In simple terms:** Ideology and religion dominate Washington power. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge non‑secular influences. Themes politics religion ideology power governance Mood critical analytical Type political commentary When to use this quote - policy analysis - media commentary - civic education Key Concepts secularism pluralism institutional critique Questions to Reflect On - How does ideology shape policy decisions? - Can secularism coexist with religious values? A Different Perspective Limits of religious influence can be contested by diverse voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Ideology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideology/) [Monopoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monopoly/) [Monopoly power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monopoly-power/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Theology asserts propositions that cannot be proven true; ideologues hold stoutly to a worldview despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/theology-asserts-propositions-that-cannot-be-proven-true-ideologues/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [When ideology and theology couple, their offspring are not always bad but they are always blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/when-ideology-and-theology-couple-their-offspring-are-not-always-bad/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [I'm not suggesting that social scientists stop teaching and investigating classic topics like monopoly power, racial profiling and health inequality. But everyone knows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-a-christakis/i-m-not-suggesting-that-social-scientists-stop-teaching-and/) [Nicholas A. Christakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-a-christakis/) > [The truth of art consists in its power to break the monopoly that those in power exercise by defining what is real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-donoghue/the-truth-of-art-consists-in-its-power-to-break-the-monopoly-that/) [Denis Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-donoghue/) > [All rent is based on the monopoly power of private owners of certain portions of the globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/all-rent-is-based-on-the-monopoly-power-of-private-owners-of-certain/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [The more fantastic an ideology or theology, the more fanatic its adherents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/the-more-fantastic-an-ideology-or-theology-the-more-fanatic-its/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [If the problem is Washington is corrupt, why on Earth would you want to give more power to Washington?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/if-the-problem-is-washington-is-corrupt-why-on-earth-would-you-want/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We hate those in power in Washington D.C. and anything bad that happens to them is good for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-metzger/we-hate-those-in-power-in-washington-d-c-and-anything-bad-that/) [Tom Metzger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-metzger/) > [Power tends to corrupt. 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