--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesn’t cause me to doubt God’s…" description: "\"“It doesn’t cause me to doubt God’s existence, but it does force me to admit there’s a lot about God I don’t understand.”\" — Carolyn Custis James" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/carolyn-custis-james-17915_doubt_it-doesn-t-cause-me-to-doubt-god-s-exist_2299792.png" --- # It doesn’t cause me to doubt God’s existence, but it does… ![“It doesn’t cause me to doubt God’s existence, but it does force me to admit there’s a lot about God I don’t understand.” quote by Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/carolyn-custis-james-17915_doubt_it-doesn-t-cause-me-to-doubt-god-s-exist_2299792.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/carolyn-custis-james-17915_doubt_it-doesn-t-cause-me-to-doubt-god-s-exist_2299792.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/carolyn-custis-james-17915_doubt_it-doesn-t-cause-me-to-doubt-god-s-exist_2299792.png) > ““It doesn’t cause me to doubt God’s existence, but it does force me to admit there’s a lot about God I don’t understand.”” [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledges that uncertainty about God’s nature doesn’t diminish belief, but reveals limits of human understanding. **In simple terms:** Uncertainty about God doesn’t erase faith. Key Takeaway Accept mystery while maintaining belief. Themes faith theology humility Mood contemplative humble Type spiritual inquisitive When to use this quote - personal prayer - interfaith dialogue - philosophical study - ethical decisions Key Concepts agnosticism spiritual inquiry Questions to Reflect On - How does doubt shape your spirituality? - What can we learn from acknowledging limits? A Different Perspective May be seen as avoiding deeper theological questions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions/) ## Related quotes > [“God is that, without which, existence does not exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mcgee/god-is-that-without-which-existence-does-not-exist/) [Margaret McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mcgee/) > [Even if it were true that we need God to be moral, it would of course not make God's existence more likely, merely more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/even-if-it-were-true-that-we-need-god-to-be-moral-it-would-of-course/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It is not the objective proof of God's existence that we want but the experience of God's presence. That is the miracle we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/it-is-not-the-objective-proof-of-god-s-existence-that-we-want-but-the/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Nowadays nobody bothers, and it is considered in slightly bad taste to even raise the question of God's existence. Matters of religion are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/nowadays-nobody-bothers-and-it-is-considered-in-slightly-bad-taste-to/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [Why do we need to justify God's existence? He exists. We need to justify our own existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamza-yusuf/why-do-we-need-to-justify-god-s-existence-he-exists-we-need-to/) [Hamza Yusuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamza-yusuf/) > [In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/in-the-absence-of-any-other-proof-the-thumb-alone-would-convince-me/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [“You are an argument for God's existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/you-are-an-argument-for-god-s-existence/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“It is not objective proof of God's existence that we want but, whether we use religious language for it or not, the experience of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/it-is-not-objective-proof-of-god-s-existence-that-we-want-but-whether/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Science's tools will never prove or disprove God's existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/science-s-tools-will-never-prove-or-disprove-god-s-existence/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [“And some scientists and other intellectuals are convinced—too eagerly in my view—that the question of God's existence belongs in the forever inaccessible PAP category.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/and-some-scientists-and-other-intellectuals-are-convinced-too-eagerly/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [ Believers who have formulated such proofs \[for God's existence\] ... would never have come to believe as a result of such proofs ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/believers-who-have-formulated-such-proofs-for-god-s-existence-would/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [From my perspective, God cannot be completely contained within nature, and therefore God's existence is outside of science's ability to really weigh in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/from-my-perspective-god-cannot-be-completely-contained-within-nature/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [God's existence cannot be deduced by reason alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-of-ockham/god-s-existence-cannot-be-deduced-by-reason-alone/) [William of Ockham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-of-ockham/) > [Good and happy people who believe in God are the greatest living arguments for God's existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/good-and-happy-people-who-believe-in-god-are-the-greatest-living/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The most compelling evidence for God's existence is Christ. If God does not exist, then Christ was the biggest fool who ever lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/the-most-compelling-evidence-for-god-s-existence-is-christ-if-god/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) ## More by Carolyn Custis James > [The strongest statement ever made about women's rights appears on page one of the Bible. God's first words about his daughters established an indestructible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/the-strongest-statement-ever-made-about-women-s-rights-appears-on/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [“Jesus won the war, and the rest of history is simply mopping up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/jesus-won-the-war-and-the-rest-of-history-is-simply-mopping-up/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [The Bible doesn't speak of "women's rights" in the social-political language we're used to hearing today. Still, that doesn't mean the Bible is silent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/the-bible-doesn-t-speak-of-women-s-rights-in-the-social-political/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [“Even when we can pinpoint “something good” that came out of a tragedy, it never balances out what we have lost. How could anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/even-when-we-can-pinpoint-something-good-that-came-out-of-a-tragedy/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [“The letter of the law says, “Let them glean.” The spirit of the law says, “Feed them.” Two entirely different concepts. Ruth’s bold proposal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/the-letter-of-the-law-says-let-them-glean-the-spirit-of-the-law-says/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [“Not every woman has a Boaz in her life. 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It focuses attention on a global issue that in the wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/women-s-rights-is-an-important-and-challenging-question-for-us-to-be/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [My book in a nutshell is about the deleterious effects of patriarchy down through the ages for women and for men and how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/my-book-in-a-nutshell-is-about-the-deleterious-effects-of-patriarchy/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [Joy isn't grounded in our circumstances; it is grounded in the unchanging character of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/joy-isn-t-grounded-in-our-circumstances-it-is-grounded-in-the/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [“When the average American says, “I’m starving,” it is a prelude to a midnight raid on a well-stocked refrigerator or a sudden trip to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/when-the-average-american-says-i-m-starving-it-is-a-prelude-to-a/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [“We view men’s gifts as vital to the church. In contrast, we caution women to exercise their gifts discreetly to avoid causing problems or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/we-view-men-s-gifts-as-vital-to-the-church-in-contrast-we-caution/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [“My mother used to tell me, “Things always look worse at night.” For the most part, I believe her. But some of the troubles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/my-mother-used-to-tell-me-things-always-look-worse-at-night-for-the/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [In the beginning no power differential existed between male and female. God empowered both with full rights and responsibility to rule outward over all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/in-the-beginning-no-power-differential-existed-between-male-and/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) > [“Boaz is not diminished, marginalized, or feminized in the slightest by being outnumbered and influenced by Ruth and Naomi. As a matter of fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/boaz-is-not-diminished-marginalized-or-feminized-in-the-slightest-by/) [Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) [Explore all 36 Carolyn Custis James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) Harry Chapman > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It doesn’t cause me to doubt God’s existence, but it does force me to admit there’s a lot about God I don’t understand.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carolyn Custis James" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/it-doesn-t-cause-me-to-doubt-god-s-existence-but-it-does-force-me-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/it-doesn-t-cause-me-to-doubt-god-s-existence-but-it-does-force-me-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/carolyn-custis-james-17915_doubt_it-doesn-t-cause-me-to-doubt-god-s-exist_2299792.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/carolyn-custis-james-17915_doubt_it-doesn-t-cause-me-to-doubt-god-s-exist_2299792.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/carolyn-custis-james-17915_doubt_it-doesn-t-cause-me-to-doubt-god-s-exist_2299792.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It doesn’t cause me to doubt God’s existence, but it does force me to admit there’s a lot about God I don’t…” — Carolyn Custis James", "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": "Carolyn Custis James", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It doesn’t cause me to doubt...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/it-doesn-t-cause-me-to-doubt-god-s-existence-but-it-does-force-me-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/it-doesn-t-cause-me-to-doubt-god-s-existence-but-it-does-force-me-to/#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 } } ] } ```