--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The belief in God is not therefore based…" description: "\"The belief in God is not therefore based on the perception of design in nature. Belief in design in nature is based upon the belief in God. Things are ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/chapman-cohen-19666_assuming_the-belief-in-god-is-not-therefore-based_2934472.png" --- # The belief in God is not therefore based on the perception… ![“The belief in God is not therefore based on the perception of design in nature. Belief in design in nature is based upon the belief in God. Things are as they are whether there is a God or not. Logically, to believe in design one must start with God. He, or it, is not a conclusion but a datum. You…” quote by Chapman Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/chapman-cohen-19666_assuming_the-belief-in-god-is-not-therefore-based_2934472.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/chapman-cohen-19666_assuming_the-belief-in-god-is-not-therefore-based_2934472.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/chapman-cohen-19666_assuming_the-belief-in-god-is-not-therefore-based_2934472.png) > “The belief in God is not therefore based on the perception of design in nature. Belief in design in nature is based upon the belief in God. Things are as they are whether there is a God or not. Logically, to believe in design one must start with God. He, or it, is not a conclusion but a datum. You may begin by assuming a creator, and then say he did this or that; but you cannot logically say that because certain things exist, therefore there is a God who made them. God is an assumption, not a conclusion. And it is an assumption that explains nothing.” [Chapman Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chapman-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The argument claims belief in design presupposes belief in God, making God an unproven assumption rather than a conclusion. **In simple terms:** Design belief assumes God, which is itself an assumption. Key Takeaway Recognize circular reasoning in theological arguments. Themes philosophy theology logic Mood critical thoughtful skeptical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - debates - academic courses - personal reflection - public discourse Key Concepts circular reasoning foundationalism axioms Questions to Reflect On - Is it possible to infer design without invoking God? - Can assumptions be justified without evidence? A Different Perspective The argument may oversimplify complex philosophical positions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-in-god/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) ## Related quotes > [“it is important to assume that the speaker shares the same human nature as yourself and that, even though your belief systems may differ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/it-is-important-to-assume-that-the-speaker-shares-the-same-human/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [The natural pattern of current astronomy is provided by the cryptic unity of nature itself (belief in which is the chief act of faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-calder/the-natural-pattern-of-current-astronomy-is-provided-by-the-cryptic/) [Nigel Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-calder/) > [One of the most powerful forces in human nature is our belief that change is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/one-of-the-most-powerful-forces-in-human-nature-is-our-belief-that/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Design in nature is but a concatenation of accidents, culled by natural selection until the result is so beautiful or effective as to seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/design-in-nature-is-but-a-concatenation-of-accidents-culled-by/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [The concept of God is generated by a brain designed by evolution to find design in nature (a very recursive idea).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/the-concept-of-god-is-generated-by-a-brain-designed-by-evolution-to/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [ The strong appearance of design \[in nature\] allows a disarmingly simple argument: if it looks, walks and quacks like a duck, then, absent compelling… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/the-strong-appearance-of-design-in-nature-allows-a-disarmingly-simple/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [By suicide I introduce my design in nature, I shall for the first time give things the shape of my will ... now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-artaud/by-suicide-i-introduce-my-design-in-nature-i-shall-for-the-first-time/) [Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-artaud/) > [My belief in God has been helping me play the way I'm playing. 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 > [“She stood and tried hard not to believe in God. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The belief in God is not therefore based on the perception of design in nature. Belief in design in nature is based upon the belief in God. Things are as they are whether there is a God or not. Logically, to believe in design one must start with God. He, or it, is not a conclusion but a datum. You may begin by assuming a creator, and then say he did this or that; but you cannot logically say that because certain things exist, therefore there is a God who made them. God is an assumption, not a conclusion. 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