--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A belief in God may not be fully within…" description: "\"A belief in God may not be fully within me anymore, but there's still a belief in belief. The high drama and power of the Church has stayed with me. As..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/ayana-mathis-8325_belief_a-belief-in-god-may-not-be-fully-within_2638485.jpg" --- # A belief in God may not be fully within me anymore, but… ![“A belief in God may not be fully within me anymore, but there's still a belief in belief. The high drama and power of the Church has stayed with me. As a child in church, I saw grown men at the altar crying out for God's mercy. And the idea of someone doing that has become a joke in the popular…” quote by Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/ayana-mathis-8325_belief_a-belief-in-god-may-not-be-fully-within_2638485.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/ayana-mathis-8325_belief_a-belief-in-god-may-not-be-fully-within_2638485.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/ayana-mathis-8325_belief_a-belief-in-god-may-not-be-fully-within_2638485.jpg) > “A belief in God may not be fully within me anymore, but there's still a belief in belief. The high drama and power of the Church has stayed with me. As a child in church, I saw grown men at the altar crying out for God's mercy. And the idea of someone doing that has become a joke in the popular culture, but when you are there and you see it, you experience - for a moment - an incredibly raw, honest, strange insight into what it means to be a human being. Those experiences don't leave you. Whatever you think of them, they are powerful experiences.” [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even as belief in God wanes, the power of religious experience remains, offering raw insight into humanity’s need for meaning. **In simple terms:** Religious rituals leave lasting human impact despite doubt. Key Takeaway Seek meaning beyond doctrine. Themes faith doubt human experience Mood reflective thoughtful Type memoir philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - theology - cultural study Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do rituals shape identity? - Can meaning exist without belief? A Different Perspective Belief may be replaced by secular meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anymore Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anymore-belief-2248837/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-belief/) [Belief God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-god/) [Belief High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-high-2248836/) [Belief in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-in-god/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God's Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-mercy/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Insight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Popular culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popular-culture/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“If you don't understand how the world works, then everything is a mystery to you. If everything is magical and mysterious, then you really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reidenberg/if-you-don-t-understand-how-the-world-works-then-everything-is-a/) [Joy Reidenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reidenberg/) > [Why does anyone do anything? Belief. A belief that they are right and just in their actions. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/why-does-anyone-do-anything-belief-a-belief-that-they-are-right-and-2/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Why does anyone do anything? Belief. A belief that they are right and just in their actions. 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But for the most part, I've just been working on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/my-belief-in-god-has-been-helping-me-play-the-way-i-m-playing-but-for/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [ I remember clearly that when I was little it was explained to me \[that\] the way that babies were made was that God put… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-remember-clearly-that-when-i-was-little-it-was-explained-to-me-that/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [A nation which thinks that it is belief in God and not good law which makes people honest does not seem to me very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/a-nation-which-thinks-that-it-is-belief-in-god-and-not-good-law-which/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [I have a strong belief in God... I find religion to be a very personal thing... I am also very spiritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sela-ward/i-have-a-strong-belief-in-god-i-find-religion-to-be-a-very-personal/) [Sela Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sela-ward/) > [A belief in God helps provide a foundation to arbitrate our decisions. Without this foundation, we are condemned to live essentially formless lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armstrong-williams/a-belief-in-god-helps-provide-a-foundation-to-arbitrate-our-decisions/) [Armstrong Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armstrong-williams/) > [Everybody dies. There’s nothing you can do about it. Whether or not you eat six almonds a day. Whether or not you believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/everybody-dies-there-s-nothing-you-can-do-about-it-whether-or-not-you/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“What is it about our specific belief in God and His wishes that makes us so angry at the specific beliefs of another? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-austen/what-is-it-about-our-specific-belief-in-god-and-his-wishes-that-makes/) [Chuck Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-austen/) > [“She stood and tried hard not to believe in God. It seemed mean and petty to have more belief in God when things were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/she-stood-and-tried-hard-not-to-believe-in-god-it-seemed-mean-and/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) ## More by Ayana Mathis > [“In one of the novel’s most dramatic and revealing chapters, Hattie leaves August with the older children and escapes with baby Ruthie (then called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/in-one-of-the-novel-s-most-dramatic-and-revealing-chapters-hattie/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [I think being consistent is really important. 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But at the same time, it's important that I embrace my identity as a writer who happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-m-wary-of-being-put-in-boxes-but-at-the-same-time-it-s-important/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“Half of what’s wrong with people today is that they ain’t got no place to go that makes them peaceful. I don’t reckon you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/half-of-what-s-wrong-with-people-today-is-that-they-ain-t-got-no/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“Bell lifted her hand to her chest. Her heart beat so quickly. She was floating out on a tide of agony, and soon she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/bell-lifted-her-hand-to-her-chest-her-heart-beat-so-quickly-she-was/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [Racial terrorism affects the lives of white people and black people and everyone, everything. Racism is contaminating. It can affect the dogs in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/racial-terrorism-affects-the-lives-of-white-people-and-black-people/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“Hattie’s children died in the order in which they were born: first Philadelphia, then Jubilee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/hattie-s-children-died-in-the-order-in-which-they-were-born-first/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“Six understood in that instant that he had something the ministers wanted and it had given him power among them. He had never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/six-understood-in-that-instant-that-he-had-something-the-ministers/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [I really, deeply believe in the primacy of character. I believe that my job as a writer is to put a believable human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-really-deeply-believe-in-the-primacy-of-character-i-believe-that-my/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“I go above deck to watch the sky darken into twilight. It helps me remember that this strange place is still the earth, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-go-above-deck-to-watch-the-sky-darken-into-twilight-it-helps-me/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“Bell had been disdainful of them; she’d thought them small and ordinary. She’d taken such pleasure in saying no to their proposals and breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-thought-them-small-and/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“Hattie clambered from the train, her skirt still hemmed with Georgia mud, the dream of Philadelphia round as a marble in her mouth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/hattie-clambered-from-the-train-her-skirt-still-hemmed-with-georgia/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [Even if you don't feel like sitting down to write or working on that big proposal, or whatever it is, just show up anyhow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/even-if-you-don-t-feel-like-sitting-down-to-write-or-working-on-that/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) [Explore all 82 Ayana Mathis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) ## 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. 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It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. 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": "A belief in God may not be fully within me anymore, but there's still a belief in belief. The high drama and power of the Church has stayed with me. As a child in church, I saw grown men at the altar crying out for God's mercy. 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