"Religion begins in story. Yes, it does, because religion is an attempt to make sense of what is incomprehensible to us, what is inexplicable, what is awe-inspiring, what is frightening, what moves us to great wonder, and so on. That is the religious impulse, and it is part of our psychological makeup -- of everyone's psychological makeup."
"I am a religious person, although I am not a believer."
"After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world."
"I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief... I'm not in the business of offending people. I find the books upholding certain values that I think are important, such as life is immensely valuable and this world is an extraordinarily beautiful place. We should do what we can to increase the amount of wisdom in the world.[Washington Post interview, 19 February 2001]"
"I am a strong believer in the tyranny, the dictatorship, the absolute authority of the writer."
"After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world."