--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not easy to explain why God permits…" description: "\"It is not easy to explain why God permits evil; but it is impossible for an atheist to explain the existence of goodness. How could a spiritless, soul-..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/fulton-j-sheen-675_atheist_it-is-not-easy-to-explain-why-god-permit_2507403.png" --- # It is not easy to explain why God permits evil; but it is… ![“It is not easy to explain why God permits evil; but it is impossible for an atheist to explain the existence of goodness. How could a spiritless, soul-less, cross-less, Godless universe become the center of faith, purity, sacrifice, and martyrdom? How can decency be the decent thing if there is no…” quote by Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/fulton-j-sheen-675_atheist_it-is-not-easy-to-explain-why-god-permit_2507403.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/fulton-j-sheen-675_atheist_it-is-not-easy-to-explain-why-god-permit_2507403.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/fulton-j-sheen-675_atheist_it-is-not-easy-to-explain-why-god-permit_2507403.png) > “It is not easy to explain why God permits evil; but it is impossible for an atheist to explain the existence of goodness. How could a spiritless, soul-less, cross-less, Godless universe become the center of faith, purity, sacrifice, and martyrdom? How can decency be the decent thing if there is no God? Since God is love, why should we be surprised that want of it should end in pain, hate, broken hearts, and war?” [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that while evil is hard to explain, the existence of goodness points to a divine source, challenging atheistic views. **In simple terms:** Goodness suggests a divine source despite evil. Key Takeaway Consider the role of faith in interpreting morality. Themes faith morality theodicy Mood contemplative serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - debates on religion - personal moral crises - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts theology philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - Can morality exist without God? - How do we reconcile suffering with divine love? A Different Perspective Atheist explanations of morality also exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Broken hearts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-hearts/) [Decency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decency/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Godless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godless/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Martyrdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martyrdom/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Purity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purity/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [There is no god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/there-is-no-god/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“Today, the belief in progress, necessary for life in a Godless universe, can no longer be sustained, except, perhaps, in the Silicon Valley mansions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-mishra/today-the-belief-in-progress-necessary-for-life-in-a-godless-universe/) [Pankaj Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-mishra/) > [“To argue that an unmade being is a contradiction the atheist must explain how they could maintain the concept of an ‘uncaused universe’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/to-argue-that-an-unmade-being-is-a-contradiction-the-atheist-must/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [These last few days I've felt Godless. 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It left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-wecker/like-when-he-had-tried-to-explain-how-this-god-of-theirs-was-somehow/) [Helene Wecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-wecker/) > [“A Jesus Follower can explain our "One God in Three Persons" is like an "equilateral triangle". Both have three, conjoined, and distinct but identical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-f-patton/a-jesus-follower-can-explain-our-one-god-in-three-persons-is-like-an/) [Gary F. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-f-patton/) > [I agree we have enough books that attempt to explain why God allows suffering, presumably in a way that lets God off the hook.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/i-agree-we-have-enough-books-that-attempt-to-explain-why-god-allows/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The beauty of religious mania is that it has the power to explain everything. 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Sheen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## 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. 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