Is America a land of God where saints abide for ever? Where golden fields spread fair and broad, where flows the crystal river? Certainly not flush with saints, and a good thing, too, for the saints sent buzzing into man's ken now are but poor-mouthed ecclesiastical film stars and clich?-shouting publicity agents. Their little knowledge bringing them nearer to their ignorance, ignorance bringing them nearer to death, but nearness to death no nearer to God.

Summary

This quote challenges the idea of America as a holy land by rejecting the notion of an abundance of saints and questioning the true depth of their spirituality. It suggests that the saints of today are more concerned with garnering attention and seeking publicity rather than embodying true piety. The quote emphasizes that knowledge alone is not enough to bring one closer to God, dismissing the belief that proximity to death automatically connects one with the divine. In essence, it criticizes the superficiality and superficial pursuits of self-proclaimed saints in contemporary society.

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