Historically, the most dangerous men on earth were men of God … especially when their gods became threatened. And I am about to hurl a flaming spear into a hornets’ nest.
-- Narrator (Prologue)

Importance: As Kirsch prepares to present his research to three powerful religious leaders, he considers how violent people of faith can become when their beliefs are threatened. His fear gives the reader the preconceived notion that it is someone from the church who is responsible for the violence preceding his announcement to the public.

Well, science and religion are not competitors, they’re two different languages trying to tell the same story. There’s room in this world for both.
-- Langdon (Chapter 1)

Importance: Langdon represents a link between religion and science with his idea that both of them have a place in the world. He argues the two should not be thought of as competitors but as two people trying to tell the same...