Bible Quote by Christopher Hitchens
““whatever are the difficulties in believing that the Old and New Testaments proceed from, or record the acts of, a perfectly wise and good being, the same and still greater difficulties stand in the way of the belief, that a being of such a character can have been the Maker of the universe. He considered Butler’s argument as conclusive against the only opponents for whom it was intended. Those who admit an omnipotent as well as perfectly just and benevolent maker and ruler of such a world as this, can say little against Christianity but what can, with at least equal force, be retorted against themselves.””
About This Quote
Source Book: God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, 2007
The quote argues that believing in a perfectly wise, good, omnipotent creator is as difficult as believing the Bible’s divine origin, highlighting logical tension.
In simple terms: Believing a perfect god and biblical truth both face big challenges.
Key Takeaway
Question the consistency of divine attributes with reality.
Themes
theology
philosophy
skepticism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
analytical
skeptical
When to use this quote
- Debates on religion
- philosophical discussions
- academic courses
- personal belief crises
Key Concepts
Divine omnipotence
moral perfection
biblical authority
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile divine perfection with observed evil?
- Can moral imperfection coexist with omnipotence?
A Different Perspective
The argument assumes a specific definition of “perfectly wise and good” that may differ across traditions.
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