Perry’s inability to accept God compared to the devoted Donald Cullivan shows a deep ideological difference between Perry and most other characters, the inclusion of this distinction shows that the people in Kansas will never be able to understand Perry’s motives because they simply think different than him. Religion is at the center of the town of Holcomb. People are expected to go to church and there is even a chaplain at the hanging of Perry and Smith (339). Perry however does not believe in religion at all. When Donald thanks God before the meal we see that Perry does not believe it was Gods doing: “Perry murmuringly remarked that in his opinion any credit due belonged to Mrs. Meier” (289). Perry is not religious and does not believe in God. He cannot even accept Donald telling him that he soul could be saved. Not believing in religion creates a major difference in Perry’s thinking compared to the other characters we see in In Cold Blood. Donald presents a religious belief that Perry cannot handle: “I believe in the life everlasting. All souls can be saved for God” (288). Donald, in being Perry’s friend in his time of need, wishes to save Perry’s soul. But Perry does not believe there is such a thing out that there will save his soul, or one that created it. The people of Holcomb think in terms of religion and base their society around it. Perry, not believing in any of it thinks completely different then they do and so no matter how much they ponder the people of Holcomb will never be able to understand why Perry committed the murders.