--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many a sober Christian would rather admit…" description: "\"Many a sober Christian would rather admit that a wafer is God than that God is a cruel and capricious tyrant.\" — Edward Gibbon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/edward-gibbon-710_atheist_many-a-sober-christian-would-rather-admi_1943804.jpg" --- # Many a sober Christian would rather admit that a wafer is… ![“Many a sober Christian would rather admit that a wafer is God than that God is a cruel and capricious tyrant.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/edward-gibbon-710_atheist_many-a-sober-christian-would-rather-admi_1943804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/edward-gibbon-710_atheist_many-a-sober-christian-would-rather-admi_1943804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/edward-gibbon-710_atheist_many-a-sober-christian-would-rather-admi_1943804.jpg) > “Many a sober Christian would rather admit that a wafer is God than that God is a cruel and capricious tyrant.” [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sober Christian might prefer to see a sacred symbol as divine rather than view God as a harsh tyrant. **In simple terms:** Prefer seeing sacred symbols as divine over viewing God negatively. Key Takeaway Choose reverence over cynicism. Themes faith theology perception Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - religious contemplation - theological debate - personal belief - artistic expression Key Concepts symbolism divine nature human projection Questions to Reflect On - How does symbolism shape your view of the divine? - Can reverence coexist with critical inquiry? A Different Perspective The view may ignore historical critiques of religious power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sober/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) ## Related quotes > [Evolution is, as well as smarter than we are, infinitely more callous and cruel, and also capricious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/evolution-is-as-well-as-smarter-than-we-are-infinitely-more-callous/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [You ought certainly to forgive them as a Christian, but never to admit them in your sight, or allow their names to be mentioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/you-ought-certainly-to-forgive-them-as-a-christian-but-never-to-admit/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [ But \[the Arabs'\] friendship was venal, their faith inconstant, their enmity capricious: it was an easier task to excite than to disarm these roving… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-arabs-friendship-was-venal-their-faith-inconstant-their/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The complaints of contemporary writes, who deplore the increase of luxury and deprevation of manners, are commonly expressive of their peculiar temper and situation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-complaints-of-contemporary-writes-who-deplore-the-increase-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Come to think of it, maybe God is a He after all, because only a cruel force would create something this beautiful and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raquel-cepeda/come-to-think-of-it-maybe-god-is-a-he-after-all-because-only-a-cruel/) [Raquel Cepeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raquel-cepeda/) > [God is either cruel or incompetent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/god-is-either-cruel-or-incompetent/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“How could God be so cruel as to create a Muslim woman with so much flesh and so little sex appeal?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/how-could-god-be-so-cruel-as-to-create-a-muslim-woman-with-so-much/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [Ah Fortune, what god is more cruel to us than thou! How thou delightest ever to make sport of human life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/ah-fortune-what-god-is-more-cruel-to-us-than-thou-how-thou-delightest/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“How can God be so cruel to grow love in such hopeless places?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-paul/how-can-god-be-so-cruel-to-grow-love-in-such-hopeless-places/) [Fiona Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-paul/) > [But God is never cruel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-girzone/but-god-is-never-cruel/) [Joseph Girzone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-girzone/) > [Burnin' churches, fearin' God, Who can be so cruel, We all ignorant to AIDS, Till it happens to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/burnin-churches-fearin-god-who-can-be-so-cruel-we-all-ignorant-to/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [“God is such a cruel god for making you so wonderful, and for making me so weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-andria-zabala/god-is-such-a-cruel-god-for-making-you-so-wonderful-and-for-making-me/) [Sade Andria Zabala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-andria-zabala/) > [You said 'God is cruel' the way a person who's lived his whole life on Tahiti might say 'Snow is cold'. You knew, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/you-said-god-is-cruel-the-way-a-person-who-s-lived-his-whole-life-on/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When someone like myself points out the rather obvious and compelling evidence that God is cruel and unjust, because he visits suffering on innocent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/when-someone-like-myself-points-out-the-rather-obvious-and-compelling/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“He had discovered that there was not just one God but many, and some were more than cruel — they were insane, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-had-discovered-that-there-was-not-just-one-god-but-many-and-some/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## More by Edward Gibbon > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [A heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-heart-to-resolve-a-head-to-contrive-and-a-hand-to-execute/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [ \[In\] the national and religious conflict of the \[Byzantine and Saracen\] empires, peace was without confidence, and war without mercy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-the-national-and-religious-conflict-of-the-byzantine-and-saracen/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/instead-of-a-perpetual-and-perfect-measure-of-the-divine-will-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Constantinople was the principal seat and fortress of Arianism; and, in a long interval of forty years, the faith of the princes and prelates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/constantinople-was-the-principal-seat-and-fortress-of-arianism-and-in/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [It is the common calamity of old age to lose whatever might have rendered it desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-is-the-common-calamity-of-old-age-to-lose-whatever-might-have/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-a-man-were-called-to-fix-the-period-in-the-history-of-the-world/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If all the barbarian conquerors had been annihilated in the same hour, their total destruction would not have restored the empire of the West:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-all-the-barbarian-conquerors-had-been-annihilated-in-the-same-hour/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [ \[Every\] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/every-hour-of-delay-abates-the-fame-and-force-of-the-invader-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The science of the church is neglected for the study of geometry, and they lose sight of Heaven while they are employed in measuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-science-of-the-church-is-neglected-for-the-study-of-geometry-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The progress of despotism tends to disappoint its own purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-progress-of-despotism-tends-to-disappoint-its-own-purpose/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [From the paths of blood (and such is the history of nations) I cannot refuse to turn aside to gather some flowers of science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/from-the-paths-of-blood-and-such-is-the-history-of-nations-i-cannot/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-nation-of-slaves-is-always-prepared-to-applaud-the-clemency-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) [Explore all 399 Edward Gibbon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## More Atheist quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [“The atheist joined his hands. It wasn't against the Gods. He smiled, with his hands folded, saw his daughter's in-laws approaching near.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/the-atheist-joined-his-hands-it-wasn-t-against-the-gods-he-smiled/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [An Atheist wandering down a road where he meets up a four road junction , he asks a passer by hey !, where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/an-atheist-wandering-down-a-road-where-he-meets-up-a-four-road/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am an atheist. I don't think there's anything divine. Beautiful, impressive, awe-inspiring - sure, but not divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-am-an-atheist-i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-divine-beautiful/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) [Browse all 2,434 Atheist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many a sober Christian would rather admit that a wafer is God than that God is a cruel and capricious tyrant.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Gibbon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/many-a-sober-christian-would-rather-admit-that-a-wafer-is-god-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/many-a-sober-christian-would-rather-admit-that-a-wafer-is-god-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/edward-gibbon-710_atheist_many-a-sober-christian-would-rather-admi_1943804.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/edward-gibbon-710_atheist_many-a-sober-christian-would-rather-admi_1943804.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/edward-gibbon-710_atheist_many-a-sober-christian-would-rather-admi_1943804.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Many a sober Christian would rather admit that a wafer is God than that God is a cruel and capricious tyrant.” — Edward Gibbon", "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": "Edward Gibbon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Many a sober Christian would rather...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/many-a-sober-christian-would-rather-admit-that-a-wafer-is-god-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/many-a-sober-christian-would-rather-admit-that-a-wafer-is-god-than/#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 } } ] } ```