--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are many countries where you can…" description: "\"There are many countries where you can only believe more or you can believe less. But in the United States we have this incredible smorgasbord, and it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/lawrence-wright-5166_absurd_there-are-many-countries-where-you-can-o_832651.jpg" --- # There are many countries where you can only believe more… ![“There are many countries where you can only believe more or you can believe less. But in the United States we have this incredible smorgasbord, and it really interests me why people are drawn to one faith rather than another, especially to a system of belief that to an outsider seems absurd or…” quote by Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/lawrence-wright-5166_absurd_there-are-many-countries-where-you-can-o_832651.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/lawrence-wright-5166_absurd_there-are-many-countries-where-you-can-o_832651.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/lawrence-wright-5166_absurd_there-are-many-countries-where-you-can-o_832651.jpg) > “There are many countries where you can only believe more or you can believe less. But in the United States we have this incredible smorgasbord, and it really interests me why people are drawn to one faith rather than another, especially to a system of belief that to an outsider seems absurd or dangerous.” [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observes that the U.S. offers a wide array of belief systems, prompting curiosity about why people choose seemingly irrational or risky faiths **In simple terms:** America has many faith options, yet people pick odd or dangerous ones Key Takeaway Explore why people gravitate toward unconventional beliefs Themes religion choice cultural diversity Mood analytical inquisitive critical Type sociological psychological religious When to use this quote - Debating religious freedom - studying conversion stories - examining extremist recruitment - hosting interfaith panels Key Concepts Pluralism cognitive bias social identity Questions to Reflect On - What social needs drive people to adopt extreme faiths? - How does abundance of choice affect religious commitment? A Different Perspective People may choose beliefs for social belonging, not just rationality ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Outsiders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outsiders/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [If you look at any station, you will see that what people are reporting comes from what they believe in, where they stand, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margarita-simonyan/if-you-look-at-any-station-you-will-see-that-what-people-are/) [Margarita Simonyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margarita-simonyan/) > [“Um, we don’t hit women in America.” He scowled, and spit out an apple seed. “No. Americans just persecute smaller countries that believe different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/um-we-don-t-hit-women-in-america-he-scowled-and-spit-out-an-apple/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [Within countries, I believe liberalism is a genuine force for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/within-countries-i-believe-liberalism-is-a-genuine-force-for-good/) [John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/) > [Everything I do is deeply rooted in my faith and especially in Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-finau/everything-i-do-is-deeply-rooted-in-my-faith-and-especially-in-jesus/) [Tony Finau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-finau/) > [Faith, whereby especially Christ rules, sets the soul so high that it looks down on all other things as far below, as having represented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/faith-whereby-especially-christ-rules-sets-the-soul-so-high-that-it/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [Do not believe in telling people of one's faith, especially with a view to conversion. Faith must be lived, and when it is, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/do-not-believe-in-telling-people-of-one-s-faith-especially-with-a/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I'm all about fueling my faith, especially when it's hard to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-anne-moss/i-m-all-about-fueling-my-faith-especially-when-it-s-hard-to-do-so/) [Carrie-Anne Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-anne-moss/) > [I'm so proud of my mom and I admire her faith and especially strength. In everything that she's gone through she's really been there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-grammer/i-m-so-proud-of-my-mom-and-i-admire-her-faith-and-especially-strength/) [Camille Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-grammer/) > [Desperation compels us to pray with fervent, focused faith - especially when we have no one else to turn to. God honors our faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/desperation-compels-us-to-pray-with-fervent-focused-faith-especially/) [Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/) > [“Try to think of it as though we are rewriting history––the first time this experience occurred you and I never kissed in this Dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-caligiuri/try-to-think-of-it-as-though-we-are-rewriting-history-the-first-time/) [Ross Caligiuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-caligiuri/) > [Anything that I'm doing I think I always come at it from an outsider perspective. The first like real front page story that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-polgreen/anything-that-i-m-doing-i-think-i-always-come-at-it-from-an-outsider/) [Lydia Polgreen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-polgreen/) > [I always felt like something of an outsider. But I identified with people up on the screen. That made me feel like I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-perry/i-always-felt-like-something-of-an-outsider-but-i-identified-with/) [Luke Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-perry/) > [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“I like men and women who don't fit well in the dominant culture, or, as Alvar de Campos calls them, strangers in this place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabih-alameddine/i-like-men-and-women-who-don-t-fit-well-in-the-dominant-culture-or-as/) [Rabih Alameddine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabih-alameddine/) > [I know always that I am an outsider; a stranger in this century and among those who are still men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-always-that-i-am-an-outsider-a-stranger-in-this-century-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Lawrence Wright > [Every medium has its advantages and weaknesses and there are many things I can put down on paper that I might not be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/every-medium-has-its-advantages-and-weaknesses-and-there-are-many/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [Contempt for men pervades the most obscure strata of our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/contempt-for-men-pervades-the-most-obscure-strata-of-our-society/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [Look at what Jimmy Carter did. Look at the risks he took for a country that wasn't his. Israel has benefited unbelievably from that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/look-at-what-jimmy-carter-did-look-at-the-risks-he-took-for-a-country/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [Hubbard set up the Church of Scientology in Hollywood in 1954 for a reason. He understood that celebrity was increasingly a feature of American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/hubbard-set-up-the-church-of-scientology-in-hollywood-in-1954-for-a/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [Religions prosper in large part because of the communities that they create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/religions-prosper-in-large-part-because-of-the-communities-that-they/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [If you have great characters, then your reader becomes emotionally invested in those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/if-you-have-great-characters-then-your-reader-becomes-emotionally/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [“However, twelve former Sea Org members told me that Miscavige had assaulted them; twenty-one have told me or testified in court that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/however-twelve-former-sea-org-members-told-me-that-miscavige-had/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [I don't want to constantly be writing about terrorism and strife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/i-don-t-want-to-constantly-be-writing-about-terrorism-and-strife/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [The Israelis and the Palestinians don't know each other. They live right there, but they've become strangers. And it makes it much more difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/the-israelis-and-the-palestinians-don-t-know-each-other-they-live/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [“Miscavige keeps a number of dogs, including five beagles. He had blue vests made up for each of them, with four stripes on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/miscavige-keeps-a-number-of-dogs-including-five-beagles-he-had-blue/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [Every form has its merits. And I like to work in a lot of different forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/every-form-has-its-merits-and-i-like-to-work-in-a-lot-of-different/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [To me the notion that Palestinians are actually Jews is, I think, quite revelatory and very radical and a possible bridge that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/to-me-the-notion-that-palestinians-are-actually-jews-is-i-think-quite/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [Science fiction invites the writer to grandly explore alternative worlds and pose questions about meaning and destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/science-fiction-invites-the-writer-to-grandly-explore-alternative/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [“Undersheriff McClanahan was so worried about the mental health of his investigative team that he assembled a team of psychologists to debrief them. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/undersheriff-mcclanahan-was-so-worried-about-the-mental-health-of-his/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [I was in Austin on 9/11, and there were no flights, so I couldn't get to New York to cover the story, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/i-was-in-austin-on-9-11-and-there-were-no-flights-so-i-couldn-t-get/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) [Explore all 103 Lawrence Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) ## More Absurd quotes > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is human nature to think wisely and to act in an absurd fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-human-nature-to-think-wisely-and-to-act-in-an-absurd-fashion/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought to myself: if it’s true that every person has a star in the sky, mine must be distant, dim, and absurd. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/i-thought-to-myself-if-it-s-true-that-every-person-has-a-star-in-the/) [Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/) > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. 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