--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To show that there are natural processes…" description: "\"To show that there are natural processes that produce religious belief does nothing, so far, to discredit it; perhaps God designed us in such a way tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/alvin-plantinga-34486_belief_to-show-that-there-are-natural-processes_2269278.jpg" --- # To show that there are natural processes that produce… ![“To show that there are natural processes that produce religious belief does nothing, so far, to discredit it; perhaps God designed us in such a way that it is by virtue of those processes that we come to have knowledge of him.” quote by Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/alvin-plantinga-34486_belief_to-show-that-there-are-natural-processes_2269278.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/alvin-plantinga-34486_belief_to-show-that-there-are-natural-processes_2269278.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/alvin-plantinga-34486_belief_to-show-that-there-are-natural-processes_2269278.jpg) > “To show that there are natural processes that produce religious belief does nothing, so far, to discredit it; perhaps God designed us in such a way that it is by virtue of those processes that we come to have knowledge of him.” [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Natural processes can generate belief, but this does not prove those beliefs are false; perhaps divine design uses those processes to reveal God. **In simple terms:** Belief from nature isn’t proof against God; maybe God uses nature to reveal Himself. Key Takeaway Consider how natural cognition could be a conduit for divine knowledge. Themes theology philosophy epistemology religion Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - religious education - interfaith dialogue - philosophical debate - personal reflection Key Concepts naturalism design argument cognitive science Questions to Reflect On - How might natural cognition be both a product of evolution and a means to know God? - Can design be inferred from the reliability of belief? A Different Perspective If natural processes are sufficient, the argument for divine design weakens. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-does-573755/) [Discredit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discredit/) [Discredit God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discredit-god-2213528/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-belief/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The Christian life that is joyless is a discredit to God and a disgrace to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maltbie-davenport-babcock/the-christian-life-that-is-joyless-is-a-discredit-to-god-and-a/) [Maltbie Davenport Babcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maltbie-davenport-babcock/) > [“By sanctifying History in order to discredit God, Marxism has merely rendered Him more peculiar and more haunting. You can stifle every impulse in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-cioran-2/by-sanctifying-history-in-order-to-discredit-god-marxism-has-merely/) [E. M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-cioran-2/) > [“Too many times we discredit God’s will because it does not coincide with our own ambitions and beliefs.” The old man replied. “But you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/too-many-times-we-discredit-god-s-will-because-it-does-not-coincide/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Belief does not change what is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/belief-does-not-change-what-is/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [“Faith, it is said, is better than belief, because belief is when someone else does the thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/faith-it-is-said-is-better-than-belief-because-belief-is-when-someone/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“it is not belief to say God exists and then continue sinning and hoarding your wealth while innocent people die of starvation. When belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/it-is-not-belief-to-say-god-exists-and-then-continue-sinning-and/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Yet comprehension does not imply belief. Nor does it mean that those who purvey such beliefs do so for more than… material gain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yet-comprehension-does-not-imply-belief-nor-does-it-mean-that-those/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your self-belief does occasionally take a knock and you have to be pretty strong to keep convincing yourself you're doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/your-self-belief-does-occasionally-take-a-knock-and-you-have-to-be/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [“That's what belief does, Sylvie. Whether something is true or not is beside the point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/that-s-what-belief-does-sylvie-whether-something-is-true-or-not-is/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [Faith is much better than belief. Belief is when someone else does the thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/faith-is-much-better-than-belief-belief-is-when-someone-else-does-the/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Self-belief does not necessarily ensure success, but self-disbelief assuredly spawns failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/self-belief-does-not-necessarily-ensure-success-but-self-disbelief/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [The problem I want to talk to you about tonight is the problem of belief. What does it mean to believe? We use this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-problem-i-want-to-talk-to-you-about-tonight-is-the-problem-of/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Faith is a devout belief in what one does not understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-anne-de-vichy-chamrond-marquise-du-deffand/faith-is-a-devout-belief-in-what-one-does-not-understand/) [Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-anne-de-vichy-chamrond-marquise-du-deffand/) > [“When belief does not control your most important decisions, it is not belief in the underlying reality, it is belief in the usefulness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-belief-does-not-control-your-most-important-decisions-it-is-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Any belief that does not command the one who holds it is not a real belief; it is a pseudo belief only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/any-belief-that-does-not-command-the-one-who-holds-it-is-not-a-real/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) ## More by Alvin Plantinga > [If you believe in evolution and naturalism then you have a reason not to think your faculties are reliable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/if-you-believe-in-evolution-and-naturalism-then-you-have-a-reason-not/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [Most of us form estimates of our intelligence, wisdom, and moral fiber that are considerably higher than an objective estimate would warrant; no doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/most-of-us-form-estimates-of-our-intelligence-wisdom-and-moral-fiber/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [The Christian philosopher has a perfect right to the point of view and prephilosophical assumptions he brings to philosophic work; the fact that these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/the-christian-philosopher-has-a-perfect-right-to-the-point-of-view/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [There is superficial conflict but deep concord between science and theistic religion, but superficial concord and deep conflict between science and naturalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/there-is-superficial-conflict-but-deep-concord-between-science-and/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [But lack of evidence, if indeed evidence is lacking, is no grounds for atheism. 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They cannot, perhaps, be said to prove or establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/hence-our-verdict-on-these-reformulated-versions-of-st-anselm-s/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [Reason is the power or capacity whereby we see or detect logical relationships among propositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/reason-is-the-power-or-capacity-whereby-we-see-or-detect-logical/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [In religious belief as elsewhere, we must take our chances, recognizing that we could be wrong, dreadfully wrong. There are no guarantees; the religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/in-religious-belief-as-elsewhere-we-must-take-our-chances-recognizing/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [“Dawkins claims that the living world came to be by way of unguided evolution: “the Evidence of Evolution,” he says, “Reveals a Universe Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/dawkins-claims-that-the-living-world-came-to-be-by-way-of-unguided/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [“De jure objections are arguments of claims to the effect that Christian belief, whether or not true, is at any rate unjustifiable, or rationally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/de-jure-objections-are-arguments-of-claims-to-the-effect-that/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) [Explore all 14 Alvin Plantinga quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. 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Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To show that there are natural processes that produce religious belief does nothing, so far, to discredit it; perhaps God designed us in such a way that it is by virtue of those processes that we come to have knowledge of him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alvin Plantinga" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/to-show-that-there-are-natural-processes-that-produce-religious/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/to-show-that-there-are-natural-processes-that-produce-religious/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/alvin-plantinga-34486_belief_to-show-that-there-are-natural-processes_2269278.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/alvin-plantinga-34486_belief_to-show-that-there-are-natural-processes_2269278.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/alvin-plantinga-34486_belief_to-show-that-there-are-natural-processes_2269278.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To show that there are natural processes that produce religious belief does nothing, so far, to discredit…” — Alvin Plantinga", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alvin Plantinga", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To show that there are natural...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/to-show-that-there-are-natural-processes-that-produce-religious/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/to-show-that-there-are-natural-processes-that-produce-religious/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```