Can I get an “Amen!” from the congregation?

[jaleel2007]

Hi, teachers and language lover. Please help me I can not understand the meaning and connection of the sentence with other sentence.

"Religious belief has inspired a lot of beautiful works of art and music as well as acts of profound generosity and selflessness. Can I get an “Amen!” from the congregation? I thought so."

Does it mean everyone will agree with me?

 

[emsr2d2]

In many churches, mainly evangelical churches, whenever the person at the front (pastor? vicar?) says something that he/she wants everyone to vocalise their agreement with, he/she might encourage them to shout "Amen!" (That is what is said at the end of many prayers and is shouted in more enthusiastic churches and it means "So be it").

I think the writer is asking for the readers to enthusiastically agree that religion has inspired a lot of beautiful art and music, and acts of profound generosity and selflessness. He then, almost sarcastically, says that he is not surprised that so many readers (he believes) shouted "Amen!" It is very rare for a congregation to keep silent when encouraged to shout "Amen!"