--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The US is a country [in which] eighty…" description: "\"The US is a country [in which] eighty percent of the population thinks the Bible was written by god. About half think every word is literally true. So ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/noam-chomsky-42_appeals_the-us-is-a-country-in-which-eighty-perc_2767065.jpg" --- # The US is a country \[in which\] eighty percent of the… ![“The US is a country [in which] eighty percent of the population thinks the Bible was written by god. About half think every word is literally true. So it's had to appeal to that - and to the nativist population, the people that are frightened, have always been... It's a very frightened country and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/noam-chomsky-42_appeals_the-us-is-a-country-in-which-eighty-perc_2767065.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/noam-chomsky-42_appeals_the-us-is-a-country-in-which-eighty-perc_2767065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/noam-chomsky-42_appeals_the-us-is-a-country-in-which-eighty-perc_2767065.jpg) > “The US is a country \[in which\] eighty percent of the population thinks the Bible was written by god. About half think every word is literally true. So it's had to appeal to that - and to the nativist population, the people that are frightened, have always been... It's a very frightened country and that's increasing now with the recognition that the white population is going to be a minority pretty soon, "they've taken our country from us."” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many Americans hold literal biblical beliefs, driven by fear and identity politics, especially amid demographic shifts. **In simple terms:** People believe the Bible literally because of fear and identity. Key Takeaway Question beliefs, seek evidence. Themes religion politics demography Mood critical analytical Type political sociological When to use this quote - public policy - education - community dialogue Key Concepts sociology cultural studies Questions to Reflect On - How does fear shape belief? - What can reduce religious literalism? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex faith experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Minorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minorities/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The majority of the population thinks that if the government runs healthcare, they're going to take away your freedom. At the same time, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-majority-of-the-population-thinks-that-if-the-government-runs/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I mean you look back at American history and American culture, it's pretty striking. I mean this has been the safest country in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-mean-you-look-back-at-american-history-and-american-culture-it-s/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“But I think that there are things about the United States that aren't really recognized sufficiently, so it's important to remember that until 1945,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/but-i-think-that-there-are-things-about-the-united-states-that-aren-t/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Infidelity and skepticism abound everywhere. In one form or another they are to be found in every rank and class of society. Thousands are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/infidelity-and-skepticism-abound-everywhere-in-one-form-or-another/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [America has not traditionally been the cramped, frightened country of Trump's executive order that bans Syrian refugees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/america-has-not-traditionally-been-the-cramped-frightened-country-of/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The general population still thinks HIV is something that came in the 80s and went away, or that it only affects the gay population…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/the-general-population-still-thinks-hiv-is-something-that-came-in-the/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [“He was frightened for his country. Slowly and tragically it was drifting in the wrong direction. Something had to be done. Tiny gestures. Barely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timoth-e-de-fombelle/he-was-frightened-for-his-country-slowly-and-tragically-it-was/) [Timothée de Fombelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timoth-e-de-fombelle/) > [The clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/the-clarity-of-scripture-means-that-the-bible-is-written-in-such-a/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [Back when the Bible was written, then edited, then rewritten, then rewritten, then re-edited, then translated from dead languages, then re-translated, then edited, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/back-when-the-bible-was-written-then-edited-then-rewritten-then/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [Though the Bible was written over sixteen centuries by at least forty authors, it has one central theme-salvation through faith in Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/though-the-bible-was-written-over-sixteen-centuries-by-at-least-forty/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“And I read something else," Jacob goes on. "There was this discussion of the story of Cain and Abel, from the Bible. After Cain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gidwitz/and-i-read-something-else-jacob-goes-on-there-was-this-discussion-of/) [Adam Gidwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gidwitz/) > [“Now I see the Bible as it was written: the inspired word of God, but also a historical document preserving the ancient hegemony of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-parker/now-i-see-the-bible-as-it-was-written-the-inspired-word-of-god-but/) [Willie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-parker/) > [The Bible was written between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago, and it's filled with the knowledge that people had in that period of time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-bible-was-written-between-3-000-and-2-000-years-ago-and-it-s/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Bible was written not to satisfy your curiosity but to help you conform to Christ's image. Not to make you a smarter sinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/the-bible-was-written-not-to-satisfy-your-curiosity-but-to-help-you/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [“The Holy Bible is the written code of holy teachings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-bible-is-the-written-code-of-holy-teachings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by Noam Chomsky > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More Appeals quotes > [Quotations can be valuable, like raisins in the rice pudding, for adding iron as well as eye appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/quotations-can-be-valuable-like-raisins-in-the-rice-pudding-for/) [Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/) > [If Robert Heinlein is more to your taste than George Lucas: “If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/if-robert-heinlein-is-more-to-your-taste-than-george-lucas-if-you-are/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [It's an appeal as old as America and its presidency: This is an extraordinary country populated by hard-working, big-dreaming, freedom-loving people graced by God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/it-s-an-appeal-as-old-as-america-and-its-presidency-this-is-an/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [I liked wrestling a lot better than boxing. I remember thinking at that time that wrestling was a pure demonstration of strength, which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-carpenter/i-liked-wrestling-a-lot-better-than-boxing-i-remember-thinking-at/) [Scott Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-carpenter/) > [As a social and as a personal force, religion has become a dependent variable. It does not originate; it reacts. It does not denounce;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/as-a-social-and-as-a-personal-force-religion-has-become-a-dependent/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [The ascent of any route begins, in dreams at least, the autumn before. Our minds ring, involuntarily, with the alluring names of mountains, aiguilles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-rebuffat/the-ascent-of-any-route-begins-in-dreams-at-least-the-autumn-before/) [Gaston Rebuffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-rebuffat/) > [I sometimes find that my family's emphasis on stories, characters, and art that appeals directly to children rather than over their heads to adults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-berenstain/i-sometimes-find-that-my-family-s-emphasis-on-stories-characters-and/) [Mike Berenstain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-berenstain/) > [Vice is its own reward. It is virtue which, if it is to be marketed with consumer appeal, must carry Green Shield stamps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/vice-is-its-own-reward-it-is-virtue-which-if-it-is-to-be-marketed/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [In my early teens, science fiction and fantasy had an almost-total hold over my imagination. Their outcast status was part of their appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kunzru/in-my-early-teens-science-fiction-and-fantasy-had-an-almost-total/) [Hari Kunzru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kunzru/) > [The fact is that there is a profound spiritual hunger in the western world which, for a variety of reasons, its church is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-phillips/the-fact-is-that-there-is-a-profound-spiritual-hunger-in-the-western/) [Melanie Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-phillips/) > [People can talk about punk all they want, but after new wave put that down, metal is the voice of the disenfranchised and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/people-can-talk-about-punk-all-they-want-but-after-new-wave-put-that/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [Appeal to all scholars of stupidity in the world. Come to Italy, this country has the highest rate of morons of the universe, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/appeal-to-all-scholars-of-stupidity-in-the-world-come-to-italy-this/) [William C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-brown/) > [Popular thought appeals to crowds, gatherings and tribes, who use it as a way to guide the herd. It is very evident in protests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/popular-thought-appeals-to-crowds-gatherings-and-tribes-who-use-it-as/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. An animal perfectly in harmony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-law-of-nature-we-overlook-that-intellectual-versatility-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 1,420 Appeals quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The US is a country [in which] eighty percent of the population thinks the Bible was written by god. About half think every word is literally true. So it's had to appeal to that - and to the nativist population, the people that are frightened, have always been... It's a very frightened country and that's increasing now with the recognition that the white population is going to be a minority pretty soon, \"they've taken our country from us.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noam Chomsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-us-is-a-country-in-which-eighty-percent-of-the-population-thinks/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appeals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-us-is-a-country-in-which-eighty-percent-of-the-population-thinks/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/noam-chomsky-42_appeals_the-us-is-a-country-in-which-eighty-perc_2767065.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/noam-chomsky-42_appeals_the-us-is-a-country-in-which-eighty-perc_2767065.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/noam-chomsky-42_appeals_the-us-is-a-country-in-which-eighty-perc_2767065.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The US is a country [in which] eighty percent of the population thinks the Bible was written by god. About…” — Noam Chomsky", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Noam Chomsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The US is a country [in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-us-is-a-country-in-which-eighty-percent-of-the-population-thinks/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-us-is-a-country-in-which-eighty-percent-of-the-population-thinks/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```