--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am not convinced that the U.S. is more…" description: "\"I am not convinced that the U.S. is more religious than Britain. Even if more people go to church in America, I think the U.S. is a much more secular c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/stanley-hauerwas-2675_am_i-am-not-convinced-that-the-u-s-is-more_2226786.png" --- # I am not convinced that the U.S. is more religious than… ![“I am not convinced that the U.S. is more religious than Britain. Even if more people go to church in America, I think the U.S. is a much more secular country than Britain.” quote by Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/stanley-hauerwas-2675_am_i-am-not-convinced-that-the-u-s-is-more_2226786.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/stanley-hauerwas-2675_am_i-am-not-convinced-that-the-u-s-is-more_2226786.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/stanley-hauerwas-2675_am_i-am-not-convinced-that-the-u-s-is-more_2226786.png) > “I am not convinced that the U.S. is more religious than Britain. Even if more people go to church in America, I think the U.S. is a much more secular country than Britain.” [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues the U.S. appears more religious but is actually more secular than Britain despite church attendance. **In simple terms:** U.S. seems religious but is less so than Britain. Key Takeaway Examine true secularism beyond worship numbers. Themes religion secularism culture national identity perception Mood analytical thoughtful Type academic philosophical When to use this quote - political debates - media analysis - cultural studies - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts sociology theology public sphere Questions to Reflect On - What defines a secular society? - How do cultural practices shape perceived religiosity? A Different Perspective Complexity of measuring religiosity may be oversimplified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular/) ## Related quotes > [I think that secular liberals need to recognize that they are still, often, hanging their worldview on what are metaphysical ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/i-think-that-secular-liberals-need-to-recognize-that-they-are-still/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [I had always thought of Egypt as a rather secular country. And I think it is, but people are quite observant of the strictures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-had-always-thought-of-egypt-as-a-rather-secular-country-and-i-think/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Even in this secular country, the threat posed by religious fundamentalists is never very far away. Every major religious text exhorts the same principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/even-in-this-secular-country-the-threat-posed-by-religious/) [Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/) > [Incidentally, the next time some war-mongering wise-ass tries to tell you that one reason we're in the Middle East is to enhance the civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/incidentally-the-next-time-some-war-mongering-wise-ass-tries-to-tell/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [My parents were born into a secular country. They met in Turkey's top medical school, moved to America in the nineteen-seventies, and became researchers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/my-parents-were-born-into-a-secular-country-they-met-in-turkey-s-top/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [Australia is not a secular country. It is a free country. This is a nation where you have the freedom to follow any belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-morrison/australia-is-not-a-secular-country-it-is-a-free-country-this-is-a/) [Scott Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-morrison/) > [India is the most religious country in the world, Sweden is the most secular country in the world, and America is a country of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-berger/india-is-the-most-religious-country-in-the-world-sweden-is-the-most/) [Peter L. Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-berger/) > [Liberals say that we are secular country with a majority of Christians, absolutely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/liberals-say-that-we-are-secular-country-with-a-majority-of/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I think, as a secular woman who heads a religious party and lives in Tel Aviv, we don't have so many problems on religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/i-think-as-a-secular-woman-who-heads-a-religious-party-and-lives-in/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [I think that the secular work environment in general is a place that's challenging for Christians to thrive in without getting caught up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-derrickson/i-think-that-the-secular-work-environment-in-general-is-a-place-that/) [Scott Derrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-derrickson/) > [“No secular country or state can impose laws on its citizens prohibiting polygamy or bigamy, unless one religion enjoys more privileges than others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/no-secular-country-or-state-can-impose-laws-on-its-citizens/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [“Israel is the only truly democratic, secular country in the Middle East, right in the middle of all of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-gabriel/israel-is-the-only-truly-democratic-secular-country-in-the-middle/) [Brigitte Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-gabriel/) > [The first thing to say is that the ordinary criminal law in this country, the Human Rights Act, the Children's Act, all of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/the-first-thing-to-say-is-that-the-ordinary-criminal-law-in-this/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Self-righteousness has killed more people than smoking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccarthy/self-righteousness-has-killed-more-people-than-smoking/) [John McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccarthy/) > [As we go through this transition where a lot more people will be reading on devices, nobody is paying enough attention to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/as-we-go-through-this-transition-where-a-lot-more-people-will-be/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## More by Stanley Hauerwas > [Advent is patience it's how God has made us a people of promise, in a world of impatience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/advent-is-patience-it-s-how-god-has-made-us-a-people-of-promise-in-a/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [It turns out that the God whose word will stand forever does not exist to insure our fantasies that we will not have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/it-turns-out-that-the-god-whose-word-will-stand-forever-does-not/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [I have come to think that the challenge confronting Christians is not that we do not believe what we say, though that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-have-come-to-think-that-the-challenge-confronting-christians-is-not/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [Though the world may often appear to be more charitable than the church, it is crucial to remember that, for the church, the care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/though-the-world-may-often-appear-to-be-more-charitable-than-the/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [God knows we are subtle creatures who are more than able to use candour to avoid acknowledging our deceptions of others and ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/god-knows-we-are-subtle-creatures-who-are-more-than-able-to-use/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [When love becomes what Christianity is all about, we can make no sense of Jesus's death and resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/when-love-becomes-what-christianity-is-all-about-we-can-make-no-sense/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [To try to turn Iraq into a liberal democracy is absolutely crazy. Islam has no understanding of the separation between church and state because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/to-try-to-turn-iraq-into-a-liberal-democracy-is-absolutely-crazy/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [Our sin is exactly the presumption that we can know God or ourselves through our own capacities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/our-sin-is-exactly-the-presumption-that-we-can-know-god-or-ourselves/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [The heart of the gospel is that you don't know Jesus without the witness of the church. It's always mediated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/the-heart-of-the-gospel-is-that-you-don-t-know-jesus-without-the/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [I have no doubt that for some to become a Christian may involve an experience of ecstasy. Yet I do not think such an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-have-no-doubt-that-for-some-to-become-a-christian-may-involve-an/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [The Gospel of John makes explicit what all the Gospels assume - that is, the cross is not a defeat, but the victory of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/the-gospel-of-john-makes-explicit-what-all-the-gospels-assume-that-is/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [One of the challenges Christians confront is how the politics we helped create has made it difficult to sustain the material practices constitutive of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/one-of-the-challenges-christians-confront-is-how-the-politics-we/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > ['The Chronicles of Narnia' are war-determined stories. I do not think Lewis could have written well or truthfully if he had tried to avoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/the-chronicles-of-narnia-are-war-determined-stories-i-do-not-think/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [I should like to think how we write as theologians would reflect our confidence in the One who makes that writing possible. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-should-like-to-think-how-we-write-as-theologians-would-reflect-our/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [Many who become theologians in our time think their task is to try to determine how much of what has passed for Christianity they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/many-who-become-theologians-in-our-time-think-their-task-is-to-try-to/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) [Explore all 155 Stanley Hauerwas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) ## More Am quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/) [Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) Browse all 9,589 Am quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am not convinced that the U.S. is more religious than Britain. Even if more people go to church in America, I think the U.S. is a much more secular country than Britain.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stanley Hauerwas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-am-not-convinced-that-the-u-s-is-more-religious-than-britain-even/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Am" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-am-not-convinced-that-the-u-s-is-more-religious-than-britain-even/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/stanley-hauerwas-2675_am_i-am-not-convinced-that-the-u-s-is-more_2226786.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/stanley-hauerwas-2675_am_i-am-not-convinced-that-the-u-s-is-more_2226786.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/stanley-hauerwas-2675_am_i-am-not-convinced-that-the-u-s-is-more_2226786.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am not convinced that the U.S. is more religious than Britain. Even if more people go to church in…” — Stanley Hauerwas", "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": "Stanley Hauerwas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am not convinced that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-am-not-convinced-that-the-u-s-is-more-religious-than-britain-even/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-am-not-convinced-that-the-u-s-is-more-religious-than-britain-even/#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 } } ] } ```