I had a head for religious ideas. They were the first ideas I ever encountered. They made other ideas seem mean....I had miles of Bible in memory: some perforce, but most by hap, like the words to songs. There was no corner of my brain where you couldn't find, among the files of clothing labels and heaps of rocks, among the swarms of protozoans and shelves of novels, whole tapes and snarls and reels of Bible.
The author reflects on her deep connection to religious ideas, noting that they were the foundational concepts she first engaged with in her life. These ideas stood out to her and colored her perception of other thoughts, which she found to be less significant or "mean." The early exposure to religious teachings embedded themselves in her memory, shaping her understanding of the world around her.
Dillard describes her mind as a repository filled with biblical references, likening them to familiar melodies from songs. The extensive knowledge of scripture occupies various spaces in her memory, coexisting with diverse elements from her life. This rich internal landscape highlights how deeply ingrained these religious concepts are, illustrating their profound influence on her perspective and identity.
