--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God was treated like this powerful…" description: "\"God was treated like this powerful, erratic, rather punitive father who has to be pacified and praised. You know, flattered.\" — John Cleese" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/john-cleese-1768_erratic_god-was-treated-like-this-powerful-errat_1294398.jpg" --- # God was treated like this powerful, erratic, rather… ![“God was treated like this powerful, erratic, rather punitive father who has to be pacified and praised. You know, flattered.” quote by John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/john-cleese-1768_erratic_god-was-treated-like-this-powerful-errat_1294398.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/john-cleese-1768_erratic_god-was-treated-like-this-powerful-errat_1294398.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/john-cleese-1768_erratic_god-was-treated-like-this-powerful-errat_1294398.jpg) > “God was treated like this powerful, erratic, rather punitive father who has to be pacified and praised. You know, flattered.” [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God is portrayed as a demanding, unpredictable father needing appeasement and praise, highlighting a strained divine relationship **In simple terms:** God is seen as a harsh, fickle father who must be placated Key Takeaway Question the portrayal of divine authority Themes religion authority humor Mood critical thoughtful Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - Religious discourse - personal faith - counseling Key Concepts Theology psychology mythology Questions to Reflect On - Do you think this depiction helps or hinders faith? - How does humor affect serious topics? A Different Perspective This view may not reflect all theological perspectives ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Erratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erratic/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father Pacified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-pacified-4227750/) [Flattered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattered/) [God Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-treated-786722/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Punitive Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punitive-father-4227751/) [Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treated/) [Treated Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treated-like-295623/) ## Related quotes > [If God is treated as God during suffering, then suffering can reveal and present him in all his greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-god-is-treated-as-god-during-suffering-then-suffering-can-reveal/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Only one in a thousand sits down in the midst of it all and says—I will watch my Father mend this. God must not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/only-one-in-a-thousand-sits-down-in-the-midst-of-it-all-and-says-i/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [I don't think a woman should be in any government job whatever. I mean, I really don't. The reason why I do is mainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-don-t-think-a-woman-should-be-in-any-government-job-whatever-i-mean/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [The game itself, I think, plays into the strength of my game, which has always been tee to green, hitting the ball consistently in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehman/the-game-itself-i-think-plays-into-the-strength-of-my-game-which-has/) [Tom Lehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehman/) > [If the rest of his foursome are bunched directly behind his ball, or assume the foetal position with their backs to the tee, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nicol/if-the-rest-of-his-foursome-are-bunched-directly-behind-his-ball-or/) [Eric Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nicol/) > [“If the universe was scientific and just left to itself, then we’d have statistical probabilities to rely on. But once people are involved it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/if-the-universe-was-scientific-and-just-left-to-itself-then-we-d-have/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [I've become more relaxed. When I was younger, I had more erratic, nervous tension when I was working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singleton/i-ve-become-more-relaxed-when-i-was-younger-i-had-more-erratic/) [John Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singleton/) > [My bones are brittle, my heart weak and erratic, my esophagus and stomach riddled with ulcers, my reproductive system shot, my immune system useless...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/my-bones-are-brittle-my-heart-weak-and-erratic-my-esophagus-and/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) > [The short-term international capital market is shrunken and erratic, and cannot be relied upon to cushion the effects of tendencies to disequilibrium in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-myrdal/the-short-term-international-capital-market-is-shrunken-and-erratic/) [Gunnar Myrdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-myrdal/) > [Breathing is fundamental to speech. A stammer is caused by erratic airflow, so if you have a smooth airflow, you have smooth speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-gates/breathing-is-fundamental-to-speech-a-stammer-is-caused-by-erratic/) [Gareth Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-gates/) > [Time collapses and expands like an erratic accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/time-collapses-and-expands-like-an-erratic-accordion/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [ \[...\]my memory is reasonably good—unlike yours, dear sir!” “Mine is erratic,” he said imperturbably. “I remember only what interests me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/my-memory-is-reasonably-good-unlike-yours-dear-sir-mine-is-erratic-he/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Juliet's version of cleanliness was next to godliness, which was to say it was erratic, past all understanding and was seldom seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/juliet-s-version-of-cleanliness-was-next-to-godliness-which-was-to/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The course of the flight up and down was exceedingly erratic, partly due to the irregularity of the air, and partly to lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orville-wright/the-course-of-the-flight-up-and-down-was-exceedingly-erratic-partly/) [Orville Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orville-wright/) > [What is meant by reality? It would seem to be something very erratic, very undependable - now to be found in a dusty road,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-is-meant-by-reality-it-would-seem-to-be-something-very-erratic/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## More by John Cleese > [Too many people confuse being serious with being solemn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/too-many-people-confuse-being-serious-with-being-solemn/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Nerves are always a big problem for me, which is why I loved doing American sitcoms. Because you know when you do the take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nerves-are-always-a-big-problem-for-me-which-is-why-i-loved-doing/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [years ago we would have been burned for this. Now what I am suggesting is that we've advanced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/years-ago-we-would-have-been-burned-for-this-now-what-i-am-suggesting/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I think that sometimes you do something that makes a small group of people laugh, which is all we were trying to do; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-think-that-sometimes-you-do-something-that-makes-a-small-group-of/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [The very essence of playfulness is an openness to anything that may happen, the feeling that whatever happens, it's okay... you're either free to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/the-very-essence-of-playfulness-is-an-openness-to-anything-that-may/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Loving your neighbour as much as yourself is practically bloody impossible? You might as well have a commandment that states,'Thou shalt fly'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/loving-your-neighbour-as-much-as-yourself-is-practically-bloody/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Creativity is not the possession of some special talent. It’s about the willingness to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/creativity-is-not-the-possession-of-some-special-talent-it-s-about/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [England is a fairly envious little country and it's embodied in the press. They don't like anyone being more distinguished than they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/england-is-a-fairly-envious-little-country-and-it-s-embodied-in-the/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I used to desire many, many things, but now I have just one desire, and that's to get rid of all my other desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-used-to-desire-many-many-things-but-now-i-have-just-one-desire-and/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I think the hard thing for young comedians is that the majority of the young people in the audience out there don't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-think-the-hard-thing-for-young-comedians-is-that-the-majority-of/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I wish you wusses would stop whining about your unhappiness. I'm really fed up with it. Pour yourself a scotch and pull yourself together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-wish-you-wusses-would-stop-whining-about-your-unhappiness-i-m/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [On movies, I like to involve the cast in the writing of the script. I like to have a rehearsal period, after which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/on-movies-i-like-to-involve-the-cast-in-the-writing-of-the-script-i/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I had a very, very difficult relationship with my mother, who was supremely self-centred. She was hilariously self-centred. She did not really take interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-had-a-very-very-difficult-relationship-with-my-mother-who-was/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Nothing will stop you being creative more effectively as the fear of making a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nothing-will-stop-you-being-creative-more-effectively-as-the-fear-of/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I was very sad to hear of the death of Ronnie Barker, who was such a warm, friendly and encouraging presence to have when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-was-very-sad-to-hear-of-the-death-of-ronnie-barker-who-was-such-a/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) [Explore all 209 John Cleese quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) ## More Erratic quotes > [What is meant by reality? It would seem to be something very erratic, very undependable - now to be found in a dusty road,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-is-meant-by-reality-it-would-seem-to-be-something-very-erratic/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [The course of the flight up and down was exceedingly erratic, partly due to the irregularity of the air, and partly to lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orville-wright/the-course-of-the-flight-up-and-down-was-exceedingly-erratic-partly/) [Orville Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orville-wright/) > [Juliet's version of cleanliness was next to godliness, which was to say it was erratic, past all understanding and was seldom seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/juliet-s-version-of-cleanliness-was-next-to-godliness-which-was-to/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [ \[...\]my memory is reasonably good—unlike yours, dear sir!” “Mine is erratic,” he said imperturbably. “I remember only what interests me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/my-memory-is-reasonably-good-unlike-yours-dear-sir-mine-is-erratic-he/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Time collapses and expands like an erratic accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/time-collapses-and-expands-like-an-erratic-accordion/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Breathing is fundamental to speech. A stammer is caused by erratic airflow, so if you have a smooth airflow, you have smooth speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-gates/breathing-is-fundamental-to-speech-a-stammer-is-caused-by-erratic/) [Gareth Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-gates/) > [The short-term international capital market is shrunken and erratic, and cannot be relied upon to cushion the effects of tendencies to disequilibrium in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-myrdal/the-short-term-international-capital-market-is-shrunken-and-erratic/) [Gunnar Myrdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-myrdal/) > [My bones are brittle, my heart weak and erratic, my esophagus and stomach riddled with ulcers, my reproductive system shot, my immune system useless...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/my-bones-are-brittle-my-heart-weak-and-erratic-my-esophagus-and/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) > [I've become more relaxed. When I was younger, I had more erratic, nervous tension when I was working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singleton/i-ve-become-more-relaxed-when-i-was-younger-i-had-more-erratic/) [John Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singleton/) > [“If the universe was scientific and just left to itself, then we’d have statistical probabilities to rely on. But once people are involved it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/if-the-universe-was-scientific-and-just-left-to-itself-then-we-d-have/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [If the rest of his foursome are bunched directly behind his ball, or assume the foetal position with their backs to the tee, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nicol/if-the-rest-of-his-foursome-are-bunched-directly-behind-his-ball-or/) [Eric Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nicol/) > [The game itself, I think, plays into the strength of my game, which has always been tee to green, hitting the ball consistently in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehman/the-game-itself-i-think-plays-into-the-strength-of-my-game-which-has/) [Tom Lehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehman/) > [I don't think a woman should be in any government job whatever. I mean, I really don't. The reason why I do is mainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-don-t-think-a-woman-should-be-in-any-government-job-whatever-i-mean/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Visual artists choreograph dances for the eyes, guiding visual journeys in specific ways. But when presented with little or nothing, the journeys of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-caponigro/visual-artists-choreograph-dances-for-the-eyes-guiding-visual/) [John Paul Caponigro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-caponigro/) > [There is no erratic power or action or motion in creatures but they are governed by God's secret plan in such a way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-no-erratic-power-or-action-or-motion-in-creatures-but-they/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) [Browse all 77 Erratic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erratic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "God was treated like this powerful, erratic, rather punitive father who has to be pacified and praised. 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