--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... believing in a God whom we cannot but…" description: "\"... believing in a God whom we cannot but regard as evil, and then, in mere terrified flattery calling Him 'good' and worshipping him is a still greate..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/c-s-lewis-2-132_believe_believing-in-a-god-whom-we-cannot-but-re_2540853.png" --- # ... believing in a God whom we cannot but regard as evil… ![“... believing in a God whom we cannot but regard as evil, and then, in mere terrified flattery calling Him 'good' and worshipping him is a still greater danger... The ultimate question is whether the doctrine of the goodness of God or that of the inerrancy of scripture is to prevail when they…” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/c-s-lewis-2-132_believe_believing-in-a-god-whom-we-cannot-but-re_2540853.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/c-s-lewis-2-132_believe_believing-in-a-god-whom-we-cannot-but-re_2540853.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/c-s-lewis-2-132_believe_believing-in-a-god-whom-we-cannot-but-re_2540853.png) > “... believing in a God whom we cannot but regard as evil, and then, in mere terrified flattery calling Him 'good' and worshipping him is a still greater danger... The ultimate question is whether the doctrine of the goodness of God or that of the inerrancy of scripture is to prevail when they conflict. I think the doctrine of the goodness of God is the more certain of the two. Indeed, only that doctrine renders this worship of Him obligatory or even permissable.” [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When God's goodness and scriptural authority clash, the belief in a benevolent God should guide worship, even if scripture seems contradictory. **In simple terms:** Choose belief in God's goodness over literal scripture when they conflict. Key Takeaway Prioritize divine goodness over textual literalism. Themes theology faith ethics Mood thoughtful serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal prayer - church teaching - ethical decision making - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts Divine goodness scriptural authority dilemma Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile conflicting religious teachings? - What role should scripture play when it appears to contradict divine goodness? A Different Perspective This view may overlook the importance of scriptural integrity for many believers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believing God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-god/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Goodness of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness-of-god/) [Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture/) [Terrified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrified/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Ultimate questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-questions/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [What a sublime doctrine it is, that goodness cherished now is eternal life already entered on!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/what-a-sublime-doctrine-it-is-that-goodness-cherished-now-is-eternal/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Any denomination or church group that forsakes inerrancy will end up shipwrecked. It is impossible to prevent the surrender of other important doctrinal teachings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/any-denomination-or-church-group-that-forsakes-inerrancy-will-end-up/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [You will have completely wasted today if you do not stop & behold the glory & goodness of God. For this is the meaning of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-have-completely-wasted-today-if-you-do-not-stop-behold-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But for I am a woman should I therefore live that I should not tell you the goodness of God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-of-norwich/but-for-i-am-a-woman-should-i-therefore-live-that-i-should-not-tell/) [Julian of Norwich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-of-norwich/) > [“Even the things we don't understand are a display of the goodness of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-curtis-higgs/even-the-things-we-don-t-understand-are-a-display-of-the-goodness-of/) [Liz Curtis Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-curtis-higgs/) > [If you feel alone just think of the goodness of God in your life and the people who really love you. 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There are moments and there are mysteries of the divine mercy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-faustina-kowalska/oh-how-great-is-the-goodness-of-god-greater-than-we-can-understand/) [Mary Faustina Kowalska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-faustina-kowalska/) > [In accordance with the divine wisdom, genesis can only take place through destruction, and without destruction of the individual members of the species the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/in-accordance-with-the-divine-wisdom-genesis-can-only-take-place/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Our obedience to God’s commandments comes as a natural outgrowth of our endless love and gratitude for the goodness of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/our-obedience-to-god-s-commandments-comes-as-a-natural-outgrowth-of/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [“Every one of us can look back and see times where God has left us handfuls of blessings on purpose, something we didn’t deserve,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/every-one-of-us-can-look-back-and-see-times-where-god-has-left-us/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [It's a great responsibility before God, the judge who guides us, who draws us to truth and good, and in this sense the church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-s-a-great-responsibility-before-god-the-judge-who-guides-us-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful than we will ever be able to comprehend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-goodness-of-god-is-infinitely-more-wonderful-than-we-will-ever-be/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Then the shimmering opened like a door to the other side, and I saw that the gate led to another dimension of heaven on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-c-loren/then-the-shimmering-opened-like-a-door-to-the-other-side-and-i-saw/) [Julia C. Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-c-loren/) > [And if thy heart be straight with God then every creature shall be to thee a mirror of life and a book of holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/and-if-thy-heart-be-straight-with-god-then-every-creature-shall-be-to/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) ## More by C. S. Lewis > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“When He died in the Wounded World He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/when-he-died-in-the-wounded-world-he-died-not-for-men-but-for-each/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If a man is going to write on chemistry, he learns chemistry. The same is true of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-a-man-is-going-to-write-on-chemistry-he-learns-chemistry-the-same/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I#pray because the need flows out of me all the time-walking and sleeping. It does not change # God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-the-need-flows-out-of-me-all-the-time-walking-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/are-the-gods-not-just-oh-no-child-what-would-become-us-us-if-they-were/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Love is more than an emotion, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-is-a-decision/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ink is the great cure for all human ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/ink-is-the-great-cure-for-all-human-ills/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-man-may-have-to-die-for-our-country-but-no-man-must-in-any/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/war-creates-no-absolutely-new-situation-it-simply-aggravates-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Explore all 1,190 C. S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "... believing in a God whom we cannot but regard as evil, and then, in mere terrified flattery calling Him 'good' and worshipping him is a still greater danger... The ultimate question is whether the doctrine of the goodness of God or that of the inerrancy of scripture is to prevail when they conflict. I think the doctrine of the goodness of God is the more certain of the two. 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