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Atheism Quote by Eddie Vedder

“[When asked about his thoughts on gods] I think it's like a movie that was way too popular. It's a story that's been told too many times and just doesn't mean anything. Man lived on the planet — [placing his fingers an inch apart], this is 5000 years of semi-recorded history. And God and the…” quote by Eddie Vedder
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““[When asked about his thoughts on gods] I think it's like a movie that was way too popular. It's a story that's been told too many times and just doesn't mean anything. Man lived on the planet — [placing his fingers an inch apart], this is 5000 years of semi-recorded history. And God and the Bible, that came in somewhere around the middle, maybe 2000. This is the last 2000, this is what we're about to celebrate [indicating about an 1/8th of an inch with his fingers]. Now, humans, in some shape or form, have been on the earth for three million years [pointing across the room to indicate the distance]. So, all this time, from there [gesturing toward the other side of the room], to here [indicating the 1/8th of an inch], there was no God, there was no story, there was no myth and people lived on this planet and they wandered and they gathered and they did all these things. The planet was never threatened. How did they survive for all this time without this belief in God? I'd like to ask this to someone who knows about Christianity and maybe you do. That just seems funny to me.””

Eddie Vedder

About This Quote

Source Interview: Live at the Garden, 2005

The speaker argues that belief in God is a recent cultural construct, not essential for human survival throughout history.

In simple terms: God belief is a recent story, not needed for survival.

Key Takeaway

Question the necessity of religion for meaning.

Themes

history religion humanity myth skepticism

Mood

thoughtful skeptical inquisitive

Type

philosophical critical conversational

When to use this quote

  • education
  • debates on faith
  • personal worldview
  • public speaking

Key Concepts

cultural evolution existentialism anthropology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What role does religion play in modern societies?
  • Can meaning be found without belief in a deity?
A Different Perspective

Faith can provide community and moral frameworks beyond mere survival.

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