--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When belief in a god dies, the god dies." description: "\"When belief in a god dies, the god dies.\" — Harlan Ellison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/harlan-ellison-2133_belief_when-belief-in-a-god-dies-the-god-dies-2_2790663.jpg" --- # When belief in a god dies, the god dies. ![“When belief in a god dies, the god dies.” quote by Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/harlan-ellison-2133_belief_when-belief-in-a-god-dies-the-god-dies-2_2790663.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/harlan-ellison-2133_belief_when-belief-in-a-god-dies-the-god-dies-2_2790663.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/harlan-ellison-2133_belief_when-belief-in-a-god-dies-the-god-dies-2_2790663.jpg) > “When belief in a god dies, the god dies.” [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When belief in a deity disappears, the deity's influence vanishes. **In simple terms:** Belief sustains the concept of God. Key Takeaway Examine the roots of your beliefs. Themes faith existence philosophy Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - spiritual awakening - debate Key Concepts theology nihilism Questions to Reflect On - What does belief mean to you? - Can a concept survive without believers? A Different Perspective Belief may persist culturally even without personal conviction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ## Related quotes > [When a man of God dies, nothing of God dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/when-a-man-of-god-dies-nothing-of-god-dies/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [God gives life and he takes life. Everybody who dies, dies because God wills that they die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/god-gives-life-and-he-takes-life-everybody-who-dies-dies-because-god/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“The hero never rests fights every breath. When he dies god takes him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadair-desmar/the-hero-never-rests-fights-every-breath-when-he-dies-god-takes-him/) [Nadair Desmar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadair-desmar/) > [“So they bring our poor Andreas into the vestry, and unfortunately he's no longer capable of speech, all he can do is reach for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-roth/so-they-bring-our-poor-andreas-into-the-vestry-and-unfortunately-he-s/) [Joseph Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-roth/) > [That awkward moment when R.Kelly dies and God asks him : Are you a mountain,Are you a tall tree,are you really the world's Greatest??](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boat-grandberry/that-awkward-moment-when-r-kelly-dies-and-god-asks-him-are-you-a/) Boat\_Grandberry > [For," I said, "a murdered man or woman dies not in God's time, but in Man's. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [The Word of God never dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-godfrey/the-word-of-god-never-dies/) [Robert Godfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-godfrey/) > [“God dies when faith in god dies but gods principle live till we live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnel-vishal/god-dies-when-faith-in-god-dies-but-gods-principle-live-till-we-live/) Agnel Vishal > [“ He was like a god to her. What happens when your god dies? Sebastian wondered. When someone is your sun and moon and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-harris/he-was-like-a-god-to-her-what-happens-when-your-god-dies-sebastian/) [C.S. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-harris/) > [Redeemers always reach the world too late. God dies, we live; God lives, we die. Our fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-porter/redeemers-always-reach-the-world-too-late-god-dies-we-live-god-lives/) [Peter Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-porter/) > [In my Pantheon, Pan still reigns in his pristine glory, with his ruddy face, his flowing beard, and his shaggy body, his pipe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-my-pantheon-pan-still-reigns-in-his-pristine-glory-with-his-ruddy/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“- Everything's finished. Riders gallop black horses, a tyrant composes a sentence of death with grammatical errors. Youth dissolves in a day; girls' faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/everything-s-finished-riders-gallop-black-horses-a-tyrant-composes-a/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) ## More by Harlan Ellison > [Posing the question: does the god of love use underarm deodorant, vaginal spray and fluoride toothpaste?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/posing-the-question-does-the-god-of-love-use-underarm-deodorant/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [They change scapegoats at the networks more regularly than some people change socks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/they-change-scapegoats-at-the-networks-more-regularly-than-some/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [They minute people fall in love they become liars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/they-minute-people-fall-in-love-they-become-liars/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [Repent, Harlequin," said the Ticktock Man. "Get stuffed," the Harlequin replied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/repent-harlequin-said-the-ticktock-man-get-stuffed-the-harlequin/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“Living under the land, under the sea, in the belly of AM, whom we created...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/living-under-the-land-under-the-sea-in-the-belly-of-am-whom-we-created/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [I have no mouth. And I must scream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [There in the midst of the Amazon Jungle, Simon Haskell has cobbled up for himself a replica of an Art Deco salon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/there-in-the-midst-of-the-amazon-jungle-simon-haskell-has-cobbled-up/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [For the first time we have a weapon that nobody has used for thirty years. This gives me great hope for the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/for-the-first-time-we-have-a-weapon-that-nobody-has-used-for-thirty/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“There are forces in the world today, Mr. Winsocki, that are invisibly working to make us all carbon copies of one another. 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They'll make you look like chopped liver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/don-t-start-an-argument-with-somebody-who-has-a-microphone-when-you/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“I intend to keep writing stories that piss people off, that tell the particular kind of truth I think is valid, that will make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/i-intend-to-keep-writing-stories-that-piss-people-off-that-tell-the/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“Who Needs the Taj Mahal when it's a drag to live at all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/who-needs-the-taj-mahal-when-it-s-a-drag-to-live-at-all/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [Like a wind crying endlessly through the universe, Time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/like-a-wind-crying-endlessly-through-the-universe-time-carries-away/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) [Explore all 165 Harlan Ellison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. 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