There's something in every atheist, itching to believe…
“There's something in every atheist, itching to believe, and something in every believer, itching to doubt. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966 Religion enables us to ignore nothingness and get on with the jobs of life. ~John Updike, Self-Consciousness, 1989 A religion without the element of mystery would not be a religion at all. ~Edwin Lewis It is doubtless true that religion has been the world's psychiatrist throughout the centuries. ~Karl Menninger Religion is the metaphysics of the masses. ~Arthur Schopenhauer All religions are the same: religion is basically guilt, with different holidays. ~Cathy Ladman No religion is a true religion that does not make men tingle to their finger tips with a sense of infinite hazard. ~William Ernest Hocking The church is the great lost and found department. ~Robert Short I speak not of men's creeds - they rest between Man and his Maker. ~George Gordon, Lord Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage God made s”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
People tend to seek belief when uncertain and doubt when certain, revealing a psychological pull toward certainty and questioning.
In simple terms: Humans crave belief and doubt alike.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and balance your own doubts and beliefs.
Themes
psychology
faith
certainty
skepticism
Mood
contemplative
curious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- debate
- interfaith dialogue
- mental health counseling
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
existential need
faith dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you experience the tension between belief and doubt?
- What role does uncertainty play in your life?
A Different Perspective
Belief and doubt can coexist without undermining each other.