--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The tension between Stephen's atheistic…" description: "\"The tension between Stephen's atheistic stance and my faith always existed, but neither of us tried to convert the other. I am not evangelical.\" — Jane..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/jane-hawking-12947_always_the-tension-between-stephen-s-atheistic_2373815.jpg" --- # The tension between Stephen's atheistic stance and my… ![“The tension between Stephen's atheistic stance and my faith always existed, but neither of us tried to convert the other. I am not evangelical.” quote by Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/jane-hawking-12947_always_the-tension-between-stephen-s-atheistic_2373815.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/jane-hawking-12947_always_the-tension-between-stephen-s-atheistic_2373815.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/jane-hawking-12947_always_the-tension-between-stephen-s-atheistic_2373815.jpg) > “The tension between Stephen's atheistic stance and my faith always existed, but neither of us tried to convert the other. I am not evangelical.” [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She notes a respectful coexistence between atheism and faith, emphasizing personal belief without proselytizing. **In simple terms:** Respectful dialogue between differing beliefs. Key Takeaway Respect differing beliefs without trying to convert. Themes faith atheism respectful dialogue personal belief Mood thoughtful open neutral Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family discussions - public speaking - interfaith events - personal reflection Key Concepts philosophical tolerance interfaith understanding Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster open conversation about belief? - What limits respectful dialogue? A Different Perspective Both sides may still feel underlying tension despite respect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Atheistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheistic/) [Atheistic Stance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheistic-stance-5855197/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Existed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-existed-5848879/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Stance Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stance-faith-5855198/) [Stephen Atheistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stephen-atheistic-5855196/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [“Within the substandard construction of the Charlevoix church, literally upon a shaky foundation, I was baptized into the Orthodox faith; a faith that had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/within-the-substandard-construction-of-the-charlevoix-church/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [Science is only truly consistent with an atheistic worldview with regards to the claimed miracles of the gods of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/science-is-only-truly-consistent-with-an-atheistic-worldview-with/) [Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/) > [Imperious, choleric, irascible, extreme in everything, with a dissolute imagination the like of which has never been seen, atheistic to the point of fanaticism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/imperious-choleric-irascible-extreme-in-everything-with-a-dissolute/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [I am as sure as I am of the fact of Christ's reign, that a comprehensive and centralised system of national education, separated from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-alexander-hodge/i-am-as-sure-as-i-am-of-the-fact-of-christ-s-reign-that-a/) [Archibald Alexander Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-alexander-hodge/) > [“If you are a pastor there is no way you can lose faith without losing face, you are considered the devil incarnate by your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-are-a-pastor-there-is-no-way-you-can-lose-faith-without-losing/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [I would be killed by an atheistic government which was trying to force me to renounce my God-fearing government. I was convinced that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-denton/i-would-be-killed-by-an-atheistic-government-which-was-trying-to/) [Jeremiah Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-denton/) > [With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/with-or-without-religion-you-would-have-good-people-doing-good-things/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/religion-has-actually-convinced-people-that-there-s-an-invisible-man/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“We advocate the atheistic philosophy because it is the only clear, consistent position which seems possible to us. As atheists, we simply deny the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-haldeman-julius/we-advocate-the-atheistic-philosophy-because-it-is-the-only-clear/) [E. Haldeman-Julius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-haldeman-julius/) > [Imagine there's no heaven... it's easy if you try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/imagine-there-s-no-heaven-it-s-easy-if-you-try/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [We were convinced that the people need and require this faith. We have therefore undertaken the fight against the atheistic movement, and that not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/we-were-convinced-that-the-people-need-and-require-this-faith-we-have/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [I am back in LA now. And I keep thinking back to my time in New York after the bombings… I was crying so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/i-am-back-in-la-now-and-i-keep-thinking-back-to-my-time-in-new-york/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [Science is and should be seen as "completely neutral" on the issue of the theistic or atheistic implications of scientific results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-coyne/science-is-and-should-be-seen-as-completely-neutral-on-the-issue-of/) [George Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-coyne/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [At home we didnt talk about religion. So gradually the question faded away by itself and disappeared from the agenda. When I was nineteen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-prokofiev/at-home-we-didnt-talk-about-religion-so-gradually-the-question-faded/) [Sergei Prokofiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-prokofiev/) ## More by Jane Hawking > [When Stephen was first diagnosed, we weren't actually going out together, but I was already falling in love with him. He had beautiful eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/when-stephen-was-first-diagnosed-we-weren-t-actually-going-out/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [I felt that Stephen had become such a significant figure, a scientist of such international renown, that at some future date, someone would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/i-felt-that-stephen-had-become-such-a-significant-figure-a-scientist/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [I had to be steadfast in my Christian beliefs, seeking strength from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/i-had-to-be-steadfast-in-my-christian-beliefs-seeking-strength-from/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [We would look up at the night sky together, and although Stephen wasn't actually very good at detecting constellations, he would tell me about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/we-would-look-up-at-the-night-sky-together-and-although-stephen-wasn/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [The goddess Physics was Stephen's idol. I was not jealous of her, but she did give me some cause for concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/the-goddess-physics-was-stephen-s-idol-i-was-not-jealous-of-her-but/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [I felt it was terribly important, for Stephen and the children, to keep the family together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/i-felt-it-was-terribly-important-for-stephen-and-the-children-to-keep/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [Don't ever believe what you see in films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/don-t-ever-believe-what-you-see-in-films/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [Stephen's the great survivor, isn't he? He just goes on and on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/stephen-s-the-great-survivor-isn-t-he-he-just-goes-on-and-on/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [As Stephen's fame began to take off in a big way, and because he was so immersed in physics, it was becoming more and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/as-stephen-s-fame-began-to-take-off-in-a-big-way-and-because-he-was/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [I felt very committed to Stephen, and I didn't think he could manage without me. I wanted him to carry on doing his amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/i-felt-very-committed-to-stephen-and-i-didn-t-think-he-could-manage/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [Of course I don't think any of the past will go away. The thing is, with me and Stephen, for many years, I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/of-course-i-don-t-think-any-of-the-past-will-go-away-the-thing-is/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [Gardening is one of my enduring, favourite, and most rewarding pastimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/gardening-is-one-of-my-enduring-favourite-and-most-rewarding-pastimes/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [We were under scrutiny when Stephen became rich and famous. The media were in the house, and camera leads were absolutely everywhere - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/we-were-under-scrutiny-when-stephen-became-rich-and-famous-the-media/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [I was very anxious that Stephen should have every opportunity to fulfil himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/i-was-very-anxious-that-stephen-should-have-every-opportunity-to/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [I couldn't let him die; I was the agent of life for Stephen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/i-couldn-t-let-him-die-i-was-the-agent-of-life-for-stephen/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) [Explore all 52 Jane Hawking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The tension between Stephen's atheistic stance and my faith always existed, but neither of us tried to convert the other. 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