--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nonprofit status is what created the…" description: "\"Nonprofit status is what created the Bible Belt. The tax code brought religion back to this country.\" — Gore Vidal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/gore-vidal-466_belts_nonprofit-status-is-what-created-the-bib_3183936.jpg" --- # Nonprofit status is what created the Bible Belt. The tax… ![“Nonprofit status is what created the Bible Belt. The tax code brought religion back to this country.” quote by Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/gore-vidal-466_belts_nonprofit-status-is-what-created-the-bib_3183936.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/gore-vidal-466_belts_nonprofit-status-is-what-created-the-bib_3183936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/gore-vidal-466_belts_nonprofit-status-is-what-created-the-bib_3183936.jpg) > “Nonprofit status is what created the Bible Belt. The tax code brought religion back to this country.” [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tax incentives for nonprofits unintentionally fostered a strong religious presence, shaping regional culture known as the Bible Belt. **In simple terms:** Tax rules helped religion grow, creating the Bible Belt. Key Takeaway Consider how policy shapes cultural geography. Themes policy taxation religion culture Mood analytical critical thoughtful Type sociopolitical economic historical When to use this quote - tax law reform - community planning - religious outreach Key Concepts economic incentives regional identity political economy Questions to Reflect On - What unintended cultural impacts can tax policy have? - How might reforms balance nonprofit benefits with cultural neutrality? A Different Perspective Policy effects can be indirect and unpredictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Nonprofits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonprofits/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up in the Bible Belt and I made my own clothes and dyed my hair purple. Nobody ever knew what to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/i-grew-up-in-the-bible-belt-and-i-made-my-own-clothes-and-dyed-my/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [If my parents hadn't been made to do that from living in the Bible Belt, maybe it wouldn't be something that matters to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-june/if-my-parents-hadn-t-been-made-to-do-that-from-living-in-the-bible/) [Valerie June](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-june/) > [The available divorce data show that marital breakdown is now considerably more common in the Bible Belt than in the secular Northeast. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-conason/the-available-divorce-data-show-that-marital-breakdown-is-now/) [Joe Conason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-conason/) > [The bible belt is oral territory and therefore despised by the literati.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-bible-belt-is-oral-territory-and-therefore-despised-by-the/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [I was raised with the Bible Belt mentality, and by coming to California, I came out of this dark place and unlearned a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-was-raised-with-the-bible-belt-mentality-and-by-coming-to/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I just think Texas and that whole Bible Belt section is so, like, corporate. And I don't agree with organized religion in that respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/i-just-think-texas-and-that-whole-bible-belt-section-is-so-like/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [You need to identify the values that come out of that kind of belief system, because I don't see them. All the polls I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/you-need-to-identify-the-values-that-come-out-of-that-kind-of-belief/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Flipping the dial through available radio stations there will blare out to any listener an array of broadcasts, 24/7, propagating Religious Right politics, along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/flipping-the-dial-through-available-radio-stations-there-will-blare/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [As for basic jokes about sex and even my religious stuff, I don't find any problems with that, even if I'm gigging in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/as-for-basic-jokes-about-sex-and-even-my-religious-stuff-i-don-t-find/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [In many parts of the Bible Belt, the divorce rate was discovered to be roughly 50 percent above the national average.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-j-sider/in-many-parts-of-the-bible-belt-the-divorce-rate-was-discovered-to-be/) [Ronald J. Sider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-j-sider/) > [The Bible Belt, the religious South, is the section of the country that practiced slavery until the war made them give it up. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-bible-belt-the-religious-south-is-the-section-of-the-country-that/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [It's ironic that the Bible belt is the killing belt - Texas, Florida, Alabama, Virginia, and so forth, Georgia. Chief executioners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lowery/it-s-ironic-that-the-bible-belt-is-the-killing-belt-texas-florida/) [Joseph Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lowery/) > [I wasn't brought up with any religion, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-martha-white/i-wasn-t-brought-up-with-any-religion-actually/) Megan Martha White > [“He came to put a harlot above a Pharisee, a penitent robber above a High Priest, and a prodigal son above his exemplary brother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/he-came-to-put-a-harlot-above-a-pharisee-a-penitent-robber-above-a/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Clearly I miss Him, having been brought up in religion. But now a man must be responsible to himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/clearly-i-miss-him-having-been-brought-up-in-religion-but-now-a-man/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## More by Gore Vidal > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Many people in the United States happen to believe that United States policy is wrong in Vietnam and the Vietcong are correct in wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/many-people-in-the-united-states-happen-to-believe-that-united-states/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“It is curious how little interested we are in the sexual desires of those who do not attract us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-little-interested-we-are-in-the-sexual-desires-of/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/style-is-knowing-who-you-are-what-you-want-to-say-and-not-giving-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The oligarchs think that the people are both dangerous and stupid. Their point is moot. But we do know that the oligarchs are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-oligarchs-think-that-the-people-are-both-dangerous-and-stupid/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [It is curious how often one prefers his enemies to his friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-often-one-prefers-his-enemies-to-his-friends/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/as-societies-grow-decadent-the-language-grows-decadent-too-words-are/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Rome ... at its most decadent, had never thought of hiring an actor to go through the motions of being an emperor while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/rome-at-its-most-decadent-had-never-thought-of-hiring-an-actor-to-go/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [History is nothing but gossip about the past, with the hope that it might be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/history-is-nothing-but-gossip-about-the-past-with-the-hope-that-it/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. The good artist, like the wise man, addresses himself to life and invests with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-malady-of-civilized-man-is-his-knowledge-of-death-the-good-artist/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Sex is a continuum. You go through different phases along life's way... and if you don't, you've been sort of cheated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/sex-is-a-continuum-you-go-through-different-phases-along-life-s-way/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [All I want is that Americans still be able to read the alphabet in a hundred years. I am not very ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/all-i-want-is-that-americans-still-be-able-to-read-the-alphabet-in-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I do not admire 'the people,' as such. No one really does. Their folk wisdom is usually false, their instincts predatory. Even their sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-do-not-admire-the-people-as-such-no-one-really-does-their-folk/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“One of the problems of a society as tightly controlled as ours is that we get so little information about what those of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/one-of-the-problems-of-a-society-as-tightly-controlled-as-ours-is/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) [Explore all 539 Gore Vidal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## More Belts quotes > [In our society we have hard nerds and soft nerds. The hard nerds are the ones who used to have the slide rules at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/in-our-society-we-have-hard-nerds-and-soft-nerds-the-hard-nerds-are/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [The tie's a multi purpose accessory, y'know, belt, school boy, Rambo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/the-tie-s-a-multi-purpose-accessory-y-know-belt-school-boy-rambo/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [I find it frustrating when people wear belts with braces. That's an interesting one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-murs/i-find-it-frustrating-when-people-wear-belts-with-braces-that-s-an/) [Olly Murs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-murs/) > [A lot of the time, if I have samples, I can't tailor a sample. Or, I might have just bought something and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-palermo/a-lot-of-the-time-if-i-have-samples-i-can-t-tailor-a-sample-or-i/) [Olivia Palermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-palermo/) > [There's an expectation these days that novels - like any other consumer product - should be made on a production line, with one dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/there-s-an-expectation-these-days-that-novels-like-any-other-consumer/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [Yes?' Joe Solomon sounded like someone with far better things to do. 'Is there any homework?' she asked, and the class turned instantly from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/yes-joe-solomon-sounded-like-someone-with-far-better-things-to-do-is/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [What is golden is miles under your belt, miles, miles, miles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/what-is-golden-is-miles-under-your-belt-miles-miles-miles/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [I don't just want the belt, I want every one of their heads on a plate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-don-t-just-want-the-belt-i-want-every-one-of-their-heads-on-a-plate/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [To pray only when in peril is to use safety belts only in heavy traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/to-pray-only-when-in-peril-is-to-use-safety-belts-only-in-heavy/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [In his study of Atlanta over the last 60 years, Kevin Kruse convincingly describes the critical connections between race, Sun Belt suburbanization, the rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-carter/in-his-study-of-atlanta-over-the-last-60-years-kevin-kruse/) Dan Carter > [I have ten marathons under my belt, including four New York races and one Boston.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-have-ten-marathons-under-my-belt-including-four-new-york-races-and/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Microsoft is still not a black belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kutaragi/microsoft-is-still-not-a-black-belt/) [Ken Kutaragi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kutaragi/) > [It makes my skin crawl to think about the violent ways snakes, lizards, alligators and other exotic creatures are raised and killed for boots,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-brook/it-makes-my-skin-crawl-to-think-about-the-violent-ways-snakes-lizards/) [Kelly Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-brook/) > [Sorry,” he said. “Let me drop the belt-" “No.” She held on when he would have pulled away. “Don’t. I like it.” Again, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/sorry-he-said-let-me-drop-the-belt-no-she-held-on-when-he-would-have/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [How'd we come up with the robe? Was some guy just like, 'Hey, I've got an idea! Why don't we make a coat out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/how-d-we-come-up-with-the-robe-was-some-guy-just-like-hey-i-ve-got-an/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) Browse all 497 Belts quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nonprofit status is what created the Bible Belt. 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