--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you chose a particular religion, you…" description: "\"If you chose a particular religion, you were siding with the government religion of whatever region you were in. That's never been true in America, but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/susan-jacoby-10682_america_if-you-chose-a-particular-religion-you-w_6380.jpg" --- # If you chose a particular religion, you were siding with… ![“If you chose a particular religion, you were siding with the government religion of whatever region you were in. That's never been true in America, but also, the United States also has so many more immigrant groups which also tends to imply more religious diversity right away.” quote by Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/susan-jacoby-10682_america_if-you-chose-a-particular-religion-you-w_6380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/susan-jacoby-10682_america_if-you-chose-a-particular-religion-you-w_6380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/susan-jacoby-10682_america_if-you-chose-a-particular-religion-you-w_6380.jpg) > “If you chose a particular religion, you were siding with the government religion of whatever region you were in. That's never been true in America, but also, the United States also has so many more immigrant groups which also tends to imply more religious diversity right away.” [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing a religion historically aligned individuals with the dominant state faith, but America's pluralistic immigration pattern disrupts that link, fostering diverse belief systems. **In simple terms:** Religion historically tied to state; US immigration creates diversity. Key Takeaway US immigration breaks state‑religion alignment. Themes religion and state immigration impact cultural diversity historical context American pluralism Mood thoughtful analytical Type observational explanatory When to use this quote - historical societies - modern US - multicultural neighborhoods - policy debates Key Concepts state religion immigrant groups religious freedom Practical Applications - studying religious demographics - informing immigration policy Questions to Reflect On - How does immigration shape religious landscapes? - What are the implications for national identity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-diversity/) [Siding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/siding/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [“Religion, Region and Language never Matter in Love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhayraj-nanjunde/religion-region-and-language-never-matter-in-love/) [Abhayraj Nanjunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhayraj-nanjunde/) > [To imply that religious believers have no right to engage moral questions in the public square or at the ballot is simply to establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-gallagher/to-imply-that-religious-believers-have-no-right-to-engage-moral/) [Maggie Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-gallagher/) > [I believe that a government has only one religion - India first. 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When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-silverman/the-true-root-of-all-evil-is-power-and-both-government-and-religion/) [David Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-silverman/) > [the separation of church and state grew out of a desire, not so much to protect government from religion, but to protect religion from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/the-separation-of-church-and-state-grew-out-of-a-desire-not-so-much/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [The four pillars of government . . . (which are religion, justice, counsel, and treasure).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-four-pillars-of-government-which-are-religion-justice-counsel-and/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [A union of government and religion tends to destroy government and to degrade religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/a-union-of-government-and-religion-tends-to-destroy-government-and-to/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [An alliance or coalition between Government and religion cannot be too carefully guarded against…Every new and successful example therefore of a PERFECT SEPARATION between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/an-alliance-or-coalition-between-government-and-religion-cannot-be/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) ## More by Susan Jacoby > [If enough money is involved and enough people believe that two plus two equals five the media will report the story with a straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-enough-money-is-involved-and-enough-people-believe-that-two-plus/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“The specific use of folks as an exclusionary and inclusionary signal, designed to make the speaker sound like one of the boys or girls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/the-specific-use-of-folks-as-an-exclusionary-and-inclusionary-signal/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [People think that, that conversion to Judaism is just a modern phenomenon. 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