--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Think hard about the reasons for…" description: "\"Think hard about the reasons for believing and not believing, what your religion teaches you and demands so inexorably that you believe. I am convinced..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/jean-meslier-46584_atheist_think-hard-about-the-reasons-for-believi_216431.png" --- # Think hard about the reasons for believing and not… ![“Think hard about the reasons for believing and not believing, what your religion teaches you and demands so inexorably that you believe. I am convinced that if you follow closely the natural light of your spirit, you will see ... that all the religions in the world are only human inventions and…” quote by Jean Meslier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/jean-meslier-46584_atheist_think-hard-about-the-reasons-for-believi_216431.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/jean-meslier-46584_atheist_think-hard-about-the-reasons-for-believi_216431.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/jean-meslier-46584_atheist_think-hard-about-the-reasons-for-believi_216431.png) > “Think hard about the reasons for believing and not believing, what your religion teaches you and demands so inexorably that you believe. I am convinced that if you follow closely the natural light of your spirit, you will see ... that all the religions in the world are only human inventions and that everything your religion teaches you and forces you to believe as supernatural and divine is at heart only error, lie, illusion and trickery.” [Jean Meslier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-meslier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning religious doctrines reveals they may be human constructs rather than divine truths. **In simple terms:** Religion may be human-made ideas. Key Takeaway Examine beliefs critically. Themes faith skepticism humanism truth illusion Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal belief assessment - academic study of religion - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts religious authority dogma spiritual autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports your spiritual beliefs? - How does questioning faith affect your identity? A Different Perspective Some find comfort in faith, making critique feel threatening. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Supernatural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-supernatural-469528/) [Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing/) [Believing Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-believing-577018/) [Believing Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-religion-261075/) [Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convinced/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Human inventions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-inventions/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-light/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reasons Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons-believing-819364/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trickery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trickery/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Not believing in anything is also a religion .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/not-believing-in-anything-is-also-a-religion/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [I'm grateful for believing in a religion that can naturally adapt to changing times yet uphold timeless values and principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/i-m-grateful-for-believing-in-a-religion-that-can-naturally-adapt-to/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing in religion is an insult to God, because God means high intelligence and what intelligence there is in religion? Let us save the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/believing-in-religion-is-an-insult-to-god-because-god-means-high/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Believing in religion is like believing that adulthood is the solution to childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-phillips/believing-in-religion-is-like-believing-that-adulthood-is-the/) [Adam Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-phillips/) > [People are searching for reasons for believing, searching for answers to the big existential questions of "Why am I here?" and "What is life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-morris/people-are-searching-for-reasons-for-believing-searching-for-answers/) [Jonathan Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-morris/) > [There are reasons for believing that the English increase will far surpass others, and that the diffusion of the United States will ultimately produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/there-are-reasons-for-believing-that-the-english-increase-will-far/) [Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/) > [Of course, all people have their own reasons for believing what they do about gender. In my case, in over two decades of collaborating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hersch/of-course-all-people-have-their-own-reasons-for-believing-what-they/) [Michael Hersch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hersch/) > [When your reasons for believing something are justified ad hoc, you are left susceptible to further discoveries undermining the rationale for that belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/when-your-reasons-for-believing-something-are-justified-ad-hoc-you/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [There is no reason for believing that any sort of gods exist, and quite good reasons for believing that they do not exist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/there-is-no-reason-for-believing-that-any-sort-of-gods-exist-and/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Our reasons for believing Jesus existed and also that He was who He claimed to be - the God who came down - are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-koukl/our-reasons-for-believing-jesus-existed-and-also-that-he-was-who-he/) [Greg Koukl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-koukl/) > [“All true believers have good reasons for disbelieving in every god except their own,' said Birbal, 'and so it is they who, between them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/all-true-believers-have-good-reasons-for-disbelieving-in-every-god/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“She had reasons for believing that there was a young sister living, and her greatest desire was, to help that sister.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/she-had-reasons-for-believing-that-there-was-a-young-sister-living/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“When it comes to believing in the important things in life (like love, hope, justice, peace) we have a hard time proving they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-morrison/when-it-comes-to-believing-in-the-important-things-in-life-like-love/) [Jon Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-morrison/) ## More by Jean Meslier > [If God is incomprehensible to man, it would seem rational never to think of Him at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-meslier/if-god-is-incomprehensible-to-man-it-would-seem-rational-never-to/) [Jean Meslier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-meslier/) > [I would like the last of the kings to be strangled by the guts of the last priest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-meslier/i-would-like-the-last-of-the-kings-to-be-strangled-by-the-guts-of-the/) [Jean Meslier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-meslier/) > [To claim that the souls of men will be happy or unhappy after the death of the body, is to pretend that man will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-meslier/to-claim-that-the-souls-of-men-will-be-happy-or-unhappy-after-the/) [Jean Meslier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-meslier/) > [To discover the true principles of morality, men have no need of theology, of revelation, or of gods. They need but common sense. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-meslier/to-discover-the-true-principles-of-morality-men-have-no-need-of/) [Jean Meslier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-meslier/) > [... inventions and purely human institutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-meslier/inventions-and-purely-human-institutions/) [Jean Meslier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-meslier/) > [Matter and energy moves itself. It has no exterior mover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-meslier/matter-and-energy-moves-itself-it-has-no-exterior-mover/) [Jean Meslier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-meslier/) > [“How I suffered when I had to preach to you those pious lies that I detest in my heart. What remorse your credulity caused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-meslier/how-i-suffered-when-i-had-to-preach-to-you-those-pious-lies-that-i/) [Jean Meslier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-meslier/) [Explore all 8 Jean Meslier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-meslier/) ## 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. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [“The atheist joined his hands. It wasn't against the Gods. He smiled, with his hands folded, saw his daughter's in-laws approaching near.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/the-atheist-joined-his-hands-it-wasn-t-against-the-gods-he-smiled/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [An Atheist wandering down a road where he meets up a four road junction , he asks a passer by hey !, where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/an-atheist-wandering-down-a-road-where-he-meets-up-a-four-road/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am an atheist. I don't think there's anything divine. Beautiful, impressive, awe-inspiring - sure, but not divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-am-an-atheist-i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-divine-beautiful/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) [Browse all 2,434 Atheist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Think hard about the reasons for believing and not believing, what your religion teaches you and demands so inexorably that you believe. 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