How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
When people ask does he pray, is he religious or specifically saved or Christian, Billy always says yes, partly because it makes them happy and partly because he feels that's pretty much the truth, though probably not in the way they're thinking. What he'd like to say is that he's lived it, if not the entire breadth and depth of the Christian faith then certainly the central thrust of it. The mystery, the awe, that huge sadness and grief. (Human Response.68)
Billy was raised in Texas, which is, like, the heart of the "saved" homeland. Many, many evangelical Christians live in that part of the world, so saying that you aren't saved would basically be an invitation for well-intentioned lectures from people desperate to share Jesus's love. What's odd is that Billy probably does know more about mystery and awe than those avid evangelists do.
Quote #2
"You know what's funny," she said, "everybody around here's such a major conservative till they get sick, get screwed over by their insurance company, their job goes over to China or whatever, then they're like, 'Oooooh, what happened? I thought America was just the greatest country ever and I'm such a good person, why is all this terrible s*** happening to me?' And I was one of 'em, man. Just as stupid as the rest. I never thought anything bad would happen to me, or if it did there was a system that would make it all right."
"Maybe you didn't pray hard enough."
She coughed up a laugh. "Yeah, that must be it. The power of prayer, dawg." (Bully.159-161)
Although this is Billy's way of poking fun at the people who told his mother that her financial issues could have been solved by more prayer, Billy is echoing a belief that many people take seriously. And Kathryn has a good point, too: bad things happen to good people, and no amount of religion is going to make that untrue. Faith might give people a better way of dealing with the unfairness of life, but it won't stop tragedy from happening to people who don't deserve it.
Quote #3
[Norm's] blue eyes glitter with a special, no, a holy light, he is so completely certain of the Cowboys brand that God is surely on his side. What higher calling could there be? What greater good in life? Any profit to the team is truly God's work, and all creation must bend to His will. (All American.166)
Umm, yikes. Try telling that to a Redskins fan. And, um, forgive us, but we have a hard time believing that the big guy upstairs has a favorite football team…