--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Separating the God question from Buddhism…" description: "\"“Separating the God question from Buddhism does not make Buddhists atheists—within silence lies mystery. That doesn’t mean, however, we should infer fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7b/andrew-furst-79902_buddhism_separating-the-god-question-from-buddhis_2331370.jpg" --- # Separating the God question from Buddhism does not make… ![“Separating the God question from Buddhism does not make Buddhists atheists—within silence lies mystery. That doesn’t mean, however, we should infer from this acknowledgement of the mystery a nod one way or another on the matter of the divine.” quote by Andrew Furst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7b/andrew-furst-79902_buddhism_separating-the-god-question-from-buddhis_2331370.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7b/andrew-furst-79902_buddhism_separating-the-god-question-from-buddhis_2331370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7b/andrew-furst-79902_buddhism_separating-the-god-question-from-buddhis_2331370.jpg) > ““Separating the God question from Buddhism does not make Buddhists atheists—within silence lies mystery. That doesn’t mean, however, we should infer from this acknowledgement of the mystery a nod one way or another on the matter of the divine.”” [Andrew Furst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-furst/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Separating the question of God from Buddhism does not make Buddhists atheists; silence holds mystery, but it doesn't dictate a stance on the divine. **In simple terms:** Silence in Buddhism leaves mystery, not a definitive view on God. Key Takeaway Embrace mystery without forcing belief. Themes spirituality religion silence Mood thoughtful open‑minded Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal meditation - interfaith dialogue - philosophical inquiry Key Concepts theology mysticism non‑dualism Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle uncertainty in belief? - Can silence be a path to understanding? A Different Perspective Mystery can be unsettling and may lead to ambiguity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheists Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheists-silence-5608931/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Buddhists Atheists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhists-atheists-5608930/) [God Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-question-827659/) [Question Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-buddhism-5145499/) [Separating God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separating-god-626516/) ## Related quotes > [“If you want the shortest version of my answer to the question of why Buddhism is true, it's this: Because we are animals created…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wright/if-you-want-the-shortest-version-of-my-answer-to-the-question-of-why/) [Robert Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wright/) > [True peace consists in not separating ourselves from the will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/true-peace-consists-in-not-separating-ourselves-from-the-will-of-god/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [“...the great tragedy of segregation isn't so much that we see less of each other but that in separating from each other we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-great-tragedy-of-segregation-isn-t-so-much-that-we-see-less-of/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Man makes the mistake of separating himself from God and identifying himself with the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/man-makes-the-mistake-of-separating-himself-from-god-and-identifying/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Our leaders and Osama Bin Laden all claim to do the right thing in the name of God. I question that. I wonder if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshell-ndegeocello/our-leaders-and-osama-bin-laden-all-claim-to-do-the-right-thing-in/) [Meshell Ndegeocello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meshell-ndegeocello/) > [“Don't stop walking with God to question Him, but ask Him questions as you walk with Him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-d-blackwell/don-t-stop-walking-with-god-to-question-him-but-ask-him-questions-as/) [Hope D. Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-d-blackwell/) > [When you go to college, you're on your own. It's you and God. It's a question of what are you made of and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cousins/when-you-go-to-college-you-re-on-your-own-it-s-you-and-god-it-s-a/) [Kirk Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cousins/) > [“i swear to God, that was the question. Sometimes, I think there's someone up there just sitting around thinking of ways to make me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/i-swear-to-god-that-was-the-question-sometimes-i-think-there-s/) [Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/) > [I'd like to meet god. Not to question it, just to have a peak at what it is. I say 'it' because we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruud-gullit/i-d-like-to-meet-god-not-to-question-it-just-to-have-a-peak-at-what/) [Ruud Gullit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruud-gullit/) > [I live in the space where God is. There is no question that that is why I am where I am, and why I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-live-in-the-space-where-god-is-there-is-no-question-that-that-is/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [ The question itself \[of UFOs\] I think is legitimate. It's interesting, it's fascinating. It's mythic in scale and one of the grand questions. It's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/the-question-itself-of-ufos-i-think-is-legitimate-it-s-interesting-it/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [Hello Guyes, Always believe in god, because there are so many question's answer who cannot makes by google.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/god/hello-guyes-always-believe-in-god-because-there-are-so-many-question/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/god/) > [“This is not a book about whether one can be good without God, because that question does not need to be answered --it needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-epstein/this-is-not-a-book-about-whether-one-can-be-good-without-god-because/) [Greg Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-epstein/) > [The tragedy in our colleges and seminaries right now is that we turn men out who know the word of God. That is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/the-tragedy-in-our-colleges-and-seminaries-right-now-is-that-we-turn/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [“But this is what disturbs me: if there is no God, then, the question is, who is in control of man's life and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/but-this-is-what-disturbs-me-if-there-is-no-god-then-the-question-is/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) ## More by Andrew Furst > [“When we sit in meditation, we are closer than usual to the world as it is. By simply bringing body, breath, and mind together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-furst/when-we-sit-in-meditation-we-are-closer-than-usual-to-the-world-as-it/) [Andrew Furst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-furst/) > [“Look for the heart of a tradition in the actions of its humble servants and selfless teachers. Listen and let the teachings be borne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-furst/look-for-the-heart-of-a-tradition-in-the-actions-of-its-humble/) [Andrew Furst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-furst/) [Explore all 3 Andrew Furst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-furst/) ## More Buddhism quotes > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/) [Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That's all there is, enlightenment on the end of a cock. It doesn't get any more Zen than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-wilkes/that-s-all-there-is-enlightenment-on-the-end-of-a-cock-it-doesn-t-get/) [Jaden Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-wilkes/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) [Browse all 6,100 Buddhism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Separating the God question from Buddhism does not make Buddhists atheists—within silence lies mystery. That doesn’t mean, however, we should infer from this acknowledgement of the mystery a nod one way or another on the matter of the divine.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrew Furst" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-furst/separating-the-god-question-from-buddhism-does-not-make-buddhists/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buddhism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-furst/separating-the-god-question-from-buddhism-does-not-make-buddhists/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7b/andrew-furst-79902_buddhism_separating-the-god-question-from-buddhis_2331370.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7b/andrew-furst-79902_buddhism_separating-the-god-question-from-buddhis_2331370.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7b/andrew-furst-79902_buddhism_separating-the-god-question-from-buddhis_2331370.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Separating the God question from Buddhism does not make Buddhists atheists—within silence lies mystery. That…” — Andrew Furst", "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": "Andrew Furst", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-furst/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Separating the God question from Buddhism...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-furst/separating-the-god-question-from-buddhism-does-not-make-buddhists/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-furst/separating-the-god-question-from-buddhism-does-not-make-buddhists/#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 } } ] } ```