--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The atheist is a religious person. He…" description: "\"The atheist is a religious person. He believes in atheism as though it were a new religion. According to Renan, \"The day after that on which the world ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/eric-hoffer-343_atheism_the-atheist-is-a-religious-person-he-bel_1199236.jpg" --- # The atheist is a religious person. He believes in atheism… ![“The atheist is a religious person. He believes in atheism as though it were a new religion. According to Renan, "The day after that on which the world should no longer believe in God, atheists would be the wretchedest of all men."” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/eric-hoffer-343_atheism_the-atheist-is-a-religious-person-he-bel_1199236.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/eric-hoffer-343_atheism_the-atheist-is-a-religious-person-he-bel_1199236.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/eric-hoffer-343_atheism_the-atheist-is-a-religious-person-he-bel_1199236.jpg) > “The atheist is a religious person. He believes in atheism as though it were a new religion. According to Renan, "The day after that on which the world should no longer believe in God, atheists would be the wretchedest of all men."” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Atheism can function like a religion, offering certainty where faith once stood, making believers feel isolated. **In simple terms:** Atheism may act like a new religion. Key Takeaway Recognize belief systems beyond traditional religion. Themes belief identity philosophy society Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - public discourse - interfaith dialogue - education programs Key Concepts secularism existentialism social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - What drives the need for belief structures? - Can secular communities find similar support? A Different Perspective Labeling atheists as “wretched” can alienate and oversimplify. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Atheist Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist-religious-492905/) [Atheists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheists/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-god/) [Believes Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believes-atheism-2753726/) [God Atheists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-atheists-1511442/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-person/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [“The opposite of the religious fanatic is not the fanatical atheist but the gentle cynic who cares not whether there is a God or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-opposite-of-the-religious-fanatic-is-not-the-fanatical-atheist/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“If you ask the religious person "What do you believe in?" he will tell you about one thing. 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JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [If there were no God, there would be no atheists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-there-were-no-god-there-would-be-no-atheists/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is only one God and all atheists will learn that after their deaths”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/there-is-only-one-god-and-all-atheists-will-learn-that-after-their/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [“Eventually you’ll have to come to understand that there is no logical reason to believe in God.  If there was, atheists would believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/eventually-you-ll-have-to-come-to-understand-that-there-is-no-logical/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“If we are to discuss the idea of God and be restricted to rational arguments, then it is probably useful to know what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/if-we-are-to-discuss-the-idea-of-god-and-be-restricted-to-rational/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The Romans called the Christians atheists. 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Is there a meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/i-am-atheist-in-a-very-religious-mould-i-m-always-asking-myself-the-2/) [Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/) > [An atheist is as religious as a theist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/an-atheist-is-as-religious-as-a-theist/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [I am atheist in a very religious mould. I'm always asking myself the big questions. Where did we come from? Is there a meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/i-am-atheist-in-a-very-religious-mould-i-m-always-asking-myself-the/) [Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/) > [I am an atheist, I have no religious beliefs. And obviously I don’t believe in spirituality of some kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-akhtar/i-am-an-atheist-i-have-no-religious-beliefs-and-obviously-i-don-t/) [Javed Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-akhtar/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. 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Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. 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The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Atheism 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/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. 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