Believe in god Quote by Betty Smith
““I believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and His Mother, Holy Mary. Jesus was a living baby once. He went bare-footed like we do in the summer. I saw a picture where He was a boy and had no shoes on. And when He was a man, He went fishing, like papa did once. And they could hurt Him, too, like they couldn't hurt God. Jesus wouldn't go around punishing people. He knew about people. So I will always believe in Jesus Chirst.' They made the sign of the cross as Catholics do when mentioning Jesus' name. Then she put her hand on Neely's knee and spoke in a whisper. 'Neely, I wouldn't tell anybody but you, but I don't believe in God anymore.' 'I want to go home,' said Neely. He was shivering.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Grapes of Wrath” (1939) by John Steinbeck (character dialogue)
A character expresses lingering faith while confessing personal doubt, highlighting inner conflict between belief and disillusionment.
In simple terms: Faith and doubt coexist within a person.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge doubts while honoring personal values.
Themes
faith
doubt
identity
conflict
Mood
contemplative
conflicted
Type
narrative
dialogue
When to use this quote
- counseling
- religious discussion
- personal crisis
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
spiritual struggle
personal authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does belief mean to you now?
- How do you reconcile doubt with faith?
A Different Perspective
May not resolve the tension between belief and doubt.
![“To believe is not intellectual assent: "Yes, I believe in Jesus. I will sign my name to the Nicene Creed. I believe it all" - which you could do, [but] it would have no effect on who you were or what you did. It is, rather, to give your heart.” quote by Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9d5/frederick-buechner-883_believe_to-believe-is-not-intellectual-assent-ye_635623.jpg)
