Atheism Quote by Flannery O'Connor
““Leave!’ Hazel Motes cried. ‘Go ahead and leave! The truth don’t matter to you. Listen,’ he said, pointing his finger at the rest of them, ‘the truth don’t matter to you. If Jesus had redeemed you, what difference would it make to you? You wouldn’t do nothing about it. Your faces wouldn’t move, neither this way nor that, and if it was three crosses there and Him hung on the middle one, that wouldn’t mean no more to you and me than the other two. Listen here. What you need is something to take the place of Jesus, something that would speak plain. The Church Without Christ don’t have a Jesus but it needs one! It needs a new jesus! It needs one that’s all man, without blood to waste, and it needs one that don’t look like any other man so you’ll look at him. Give me such a jesus, you people. Give me such a new jesus and you’ll see how far the Church Without Christ can go!””
About This Quote
Motes condemns complacent faith, demanding a new, human-centered spirituality that replaces traditional Christ imagery with an accessible, non‑bloodied figure.
In simple terms: He calls for a relatable, human‑focused belief system.
Key Takeaway
Faith must be personally meaningful, not dogmatic.
Themes
religion
faith critique
humanism
spiritual renewal
Mood
provocative
critical
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- debating religious symbolism
- writing about personal belief
- participating in interfaith dialogues
Key Concepts
existential authenticity
iconoclasm in theology
Practical Applications
- reframe spiritual language for modern audiences
- explore inclusive symbols in community worship
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a spiritual symbol resonate for you?
- Can a new 'Jesus' be both human and sacred?
A Different Perspective
The argument may oversimplify complex theological traditions and ignore the value many find in historic symbols.
