There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
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Three quarters of the American population literally believe in religious miracles. The numbers who believe in the devil, in resurrection, in God doing this and that - it's astonishing. These numbers aren't duplicated anywhere else in the industrial world. You'd have to maybe go to mosques in Iran or do a poll among old ladies in Sicily to get numbers like this. Yet this is the American population.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the unique religious beliefs held by a significant portion of the American population, indicating a strong faith in miracles and supernatural entities.
Noam Chomsky's quote reflects on the extraordinary level of faith in religious beliefs among Americans, showcasing a cultural phenomenon where a large majority believes in miracles, divine interventions, and supernatural beings like the devil. This belief system, which is not as prevalent in other industrialized nations, suggests a distinctive aspect of American spirituality and perhaps a reliance on faith in an increasingly complex and skeptical world.
Themes
ReligionMiraclesBeliefFaithSupernatural
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech addressing the importance of faith, this quote can illustrate the cultural uniqueness of American spirituality.
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