--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are a religious nation because we do…" description: "\"We are a religious nation because we do not have a state religion, because the government guarantees freedom of religion but has no role in religion, b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/524/geraldine-ferraro-10050_atheism_we-are-a-religious-nation-because-we-do_3213263.jpg" --- # We are a religious nation because we do not have a state… ![“We are a religious nation because we do not have a state religion, because the government guarantees freedom of religion but has no role in religion, because not only do we tolerate our religious differences, we celebrate them.” quote by Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/524/geraldine-ferraro-10050_atheism_we-are-a-religious-nation-because-we-do_3213263.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/524/geraldine-ferraro-10050_atheism_we-are-a-religious-nation-because-we-do_3213263.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/524/geraldine-ferraro-10050_atheism_we-are-a-religious-nation-because-we-do_3213263.jpg) > “We are a religious nation because we do not have a state religion, because the government guarantees freedom of religion but has no role in religion, because not only do we tolerate our religious differences, we celebrate them.” [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes the U.S. as a religious nation defined by freedom and celebration of diverse faiths, not a state religion. **In simple terms:** U.S. celebrates diverse religions without a state faith. Key Takeaway Value religious freedom and diversity. Themes religion freedom diversity national identity Mood reflective serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public policy debates - interfaith events - education curricula Key Concepts separation of church and state pluralism civic unity Questions to Reflect On - How does religious diversity shape national identity? - What policies best protect religious freedom? A Different Perspective Balancing freedom with societal cohesion can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Celebrate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celebrate/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-religion/) [Freedom Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-religion/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Guarantees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guarantees/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-government-279780/) [Religion Tolerate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-tolerate-2114894/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-differences/) [Religious Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-nation-852056/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [State Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-religion-1179315/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Tolerate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerate/) ## Related quotes > [“Is Islam such a weak religion that it cannot tolerate a book written against it? Not my Islam!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/is-islam-such-a-weak-religion-that-it-cannot-tolerate-a-book-written/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [“Religion cannot stand Spirituality. It cannot abide it. For Spirituality may bring you to a different conclusion than a particular religion—and this no known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/religion-cannot-stand-spirituality-it-cannot-abide-it-for/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“It's not simply that communists are atheists and want to stamp out religion; it's that they cannot tolerate anyone who worships a King who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/it-s-not-simply-that-communists-are-atheists-and-want-to-stamp-out/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [The United States may be a religious nation. 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But we are also a broken people—a people who have pursued…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-morley/we-live-in-a-profoundly-religious-country-and-we-are-a-prosperous/) [Patrick Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-morley/) > [Americans are incredibly religious as a nation, and we have gotten that way by having the government stay out of religion and say religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/americans-are-incredibly-religious-as-a-nation-and-we-have-gotten/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [America is an unusually religious nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/america-is-an-unusually-religious-nation/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [Throughout history, religious differences have divided men and women from their neighbors and have served as justification for some of humankind's bloodiest conflicts. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-hassan-bin-talal/throughout-history-religious-differences-have-divided-men-and-women/) [Prince Hassan bin Talal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-hassan-bin-talal/) > [There were many reasons we broke up. There was a religious difference: I'm a Catholic, and she's the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ferrara/there-were-many-reasons-we-broke-up-there-was-a-religious-difference/) [Adam Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ferrara/) > [“Two centuries ago, a New Faith came to this land. Many found it an alien creed. Others merged it in with the old ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tremayne/two-centuries-ago-a-new-faith-came-to-this-land-many-found-it-an/) [Peter Tremayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tremayne/) > [“The trouble between Hindus and Muslims, which has continued to this day, is not generated by the people's inability to get along, but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun-gandhi/the-trouble-between-hindus-and-muslims-which-has-continued-to-this/) [Arun Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arun-gandhi/) > [“We have religious differences." Marrok allowed. "I want him to rot in hell and he disagrees.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-gannon/we-have-religious-differences-marrok-allowed-i-want-him-to-rot-in/) [Cassandra Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-gannon/) > [We are a people of many races, many faiths, creeds, and religions. I do not think that the men who made the Constitution forbade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/we-are-a-people-of-many-races-many-faiths-creeds-and-religions-i-do/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [“Religious unreason should acquire and even greater stigma in our discourse, given that it remains among the principal causes of armed conflict in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/religious-unreason-should-acquire-and-even-greater-stigma-in-our/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## More by Geraldine Ferraro > [the Republicans love to say that the Democratic Party is ruled by 'special interests.' But when pressed to name these 'special interests,' the usual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/the-republicans-love-to-say-that-the-democratic-party-is-ruled-by/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [You don't go through a bloodbath like this and then walk away from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/you-don-t-go-through-a-bloodbath-like-this-and-then-walk-away-from-it/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [Personal religious convictions have no place in political campaigns or in dictating public policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/personal-religious-convictions-have-no-place-in-political-campaigns/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [I am the first to admit that were I not a woman, I would not have been the vice-presidential nominee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-am-the-first-to-admit-that-were-i-not-a-woman-i-would-not-have-been/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [But I do think its necessary to have debates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/but-i-do-think-its-necessary-to-have-debates/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [And it was, it was not beating George Bush, believe it or not, the bottom line as far as I was concerned was introducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/and-it-was-it-was-not-beating-george-bush-believe-it-or-not-the/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [I have been extremely lucky; I am a person who is currently living with a cancer that is under control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-have-been-extremely-lucky-i-am-a-person-who-is-currently-living/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [I'd call it a new version of voodoo economics, but I'm afraid that would give witch doctors a bad name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-d-call-it-a-new-version-of-voodoo-economics-but-i-m-afraid-that/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [A wise man once said, 'Every one of us is given the gift of life, and what a strange gift it is. If it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/a-wise-man-once-said-every-one-of-us-is-given-the-gift-of-life-and/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [I don't consider myself a survivor; that's someone who has gone through something terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-survivor-that-s-someone-who-has-gone/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [We've chosen the path to equality, don't let them turn us around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/we-ve-chosen-the-path-to-equality-don-t-let-them-turn-us-around/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [See that's a goal that I think it's very good in the debate to find out who the person is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/see-that-s-a-goal-that-i-think-it-s-very-good-in-the-debate-to-find/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [Every time a woman runs, women win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/every-time-a-woman-runs-women-win/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman, he would not be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/if-obama-was-a-white-man-he-would-not-be-in-this-position-and-if-he/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [Well of course Bush got Kentucky, because it's a Republican city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/well-of-course-bush-got-kentucky-because-it-s-a-republican-city/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) [Explore all 68 Geraldine Ferraro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? 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