--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What the hell are you getting so upset…" description: "\"“What the hell are you getting so upset about?' he asked her bewilderedly in a tone of contrive amusement. 'I thought you didn't believe in God.' I don..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f37/joseph-heller-601_believe-in-god_what-the-hell-are-you-getting-so-upset-a_3052449.jpg" --- # What the hell are you getting so upset about?' he asked… ![“What the hell are you getting so upset about?' he asked her bewilderedly in a tone of contrive amusement. 'I thought you didn't believe in God.' I don't,' she sobbed, bursting violently into tears. 'But the God I don't believe in is a good God, a just God, a merciful God. He's not the mean and…” quote by Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f37/joseph-heller-601_believe-in-god_what-the-hell-are-you-getting-so-upset-a_3052449.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f37/joseph-heller-601_believe-in-god_what-the-hell-are-you-getting-so-upset-a_3052449.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f37/joseph-heller-601_believe-in-god_what-the-hell-are-you-getting-so-upset-a_3052449.jpg) > ““What the hell are you getting so upset about?' he asked her bewilderedly in a tone of contrive amusement. 'I thought you didn't believe in God.' I don't,' she sobbed, bursting violently into tears. 'But the God I don't believe in is a good God, a just God, a merciful God. He's not the mean and stupid God you make Him to be.' Yossarian laughed and turned her arms loose. 'Let's have a little more religious freedom between us,' he proposed obligingly. 'You don't believe in the God you want to, and I won't believe in the God I want to . Is that a deal?”” [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A dialogue about differing concepts of God, emphasizing personal belief versus imposed images **In simple terms:** God is perceived differently by each person Key Takeaway Respect diverse spiritual views and avoid assumptions Themes religion philosophy dialogue Mood reflective thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - theological debates - interfaith discussions Key Concepts subjectivity theodicy Questions to Reflect On - How do personal experiences shape one's concept of God? - Can religious freedom coexist with differing moral frameworks? A Different Perspective Some may view God as a moral authority, limiting freedom of belief ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-god/) [Merciful god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merciful-god/) [Religious freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-freedom/) ## Related quotes > [“What the hell are you getting so upset about?" he asked her bewilderedly in a tone of contrite amusement. "I thought you didn't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/what-the-hell-are-you-getting-so-upset-about-he-asked-her-2/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [But the God I don't believe in is a good God, a just God, a merciful God. He's not the mean and stupid God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/but-the-god-i-don-t-believe-in-is-a-good-god-a-just-god-a-merciful/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Everybody is a genius but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babatunde-kolawole/everybody-is-a-genius-but-if-you-judge-a-fish-by-its-ability-to-climb-4/) Babatunde Kolawole > [How dare you? How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault? It's not right, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/how-dare-you-how-dare-you-create-a-world-in-which-there-is-such/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“Through my tears I found god in myself and I loved her fiercely”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/through-my-tears-i-found-god-in-myself-and-i-loved-her-fiercely/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [Tears are God's gift to us. Our holy water. They heal us as they flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-schiano/tears-are-god-s-gift-to-us-our-holy-water-they-heal-us-as-they-flow/) [Rita Schiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-schiano/) > [How is faith to endure, O God, when you allow all this scraping and tearing on us? You have allowed rivers of blood to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-wolterstorff/how-is-faith-to-endure-o-god-when-you-allow-all-this-scraping-and/) [Nicholas Wolterstorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-wolterstorff/) > [The tears of God are the meaning of history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-wolterstorff/the-tears-of-god-are-the-meaning-of-history/) [Nicholas Wolterstorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-wolterstorff/) > [“Tears are God's way of cleansing the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-barlow-jordan/tears-are-god-s-way-of-cleansing-the-heart/) Rebecca Barlow Jordan > [“I am not that God who wipe off your tears, I am that God who wipe out his eyes who cause others tears”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/i-am-not-that-god-who-wipe-off-your-tears-i-am-that-god-who-wipe-out/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [I shed more tears than God could ever have required.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/i-shed-more-tears-than-god-could-ever-have-required/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [We strain to hear. But instead of hearing an answer we catch sight of God himself scraped and torn. Through our tears we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-wolterstorff/we-strain-to-hear-but-instead-of-hearing-an-answer-we-catch-sight-of/) [Nicholas Wolterstorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-wolterstorff/) > [“O, that this too too solid flesh would melt Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-that-this-too-too-solid-flesh-would-melt-thaw-and-resolve-itself/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“You're pretty great, God, and I mean that, but if it were up to me - like if I happened to be YOU -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregor-collins/you-re-pretty-great-god-and-i-mean-that-but-if-it-were-up-to-me-like/) [Gregor Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregor-collins/) > [“She stood and tried hard not to believe in God. It seemed mean and petty to have more belief in God when things were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/she-stood-and-tried-hard-not-to-believe-in-god-it-seemed-mean-and/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) ## More by Joseph Heller > [“Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle. "That's some catch, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/yossarian-was-moved-very-deeply-by-the-absolute-simplicity-of-this/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [From men motivated by moral certitude, history teaches, no lasting good ever comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/from-men-motivated-by-moral-certitude-history-teaches-no-lasting-good/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [I’m cold,' Snowden said softly, 'I’m cold.' 'You’re going to be all right, kid,' Yossarian reassured him with a grin. 'You’re going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-m-cold-snowden-said-softly-i-m-cold-you-re-going-to-be-all-right/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/the-enemy-is-anybody-who-s-going-to-get-you-killed-no-matter-which/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“They think that they’re smart and that the rest of us are dumb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/they-think-that-they-re-smart-and-that-the-rest-of-us-are-dumb/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/there-was-only-one-catch-and-that-was-catch-22-which-specified-that-a/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Captain Flume was obsessed with the idea that Chief White Halfoat would tiptoe up to his cot one night when he was sound asleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/captain-flume-was-obsessed-with-the-idea-that-chief-white-halfoat/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Depreciating motels, junked automobiles, and quick-food joints grow like amber waves of grain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/depreciating-motels-junked-automobiles-and-quick-food-joints-grow/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“That was where he wanted to be if he had to be there at all, instead of hung out there in front like some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/that-was-where-he-wanted-to-be-if-he-had-to-be-there-at-all-instead/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [I had examined myself pretty thoroughly and discovered that I was unfit for military service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-had-examined-myself-pretty-thoroughly-and-discovered-that-i-was/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Yossarian was moved by such intense pity for his poverty that he wanted to smash his pale. sad, sickly face with his fist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/yossarian-was-moved-by-such-intense-pity-for-his-poverty-that-he/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [You have deep-seated survival anxieties. And you don't like bigots, bullies, snobs or hypocrites. Subconsciously there are many people you hate." "Consciously, sir, consciously,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/you-have-deep-seated-survival-anxieties-and-you-don-t-like-bigots/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“His specialty was alfalfa, and he made a good thing out of not growing any. The government paid him well for every bushel of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/his-specialty-was-alfalfa-and-he-made-a-good-thing-out-of-not-growing/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [Every writer I know has trouble writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/every-writer-i-know-has-trouble-writing/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“No such private nights of ecstasy or hushed-up drinking and sex orgies ever occurred. They might have occurred if either General Dreedle or General…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/no-such-private-nights-of-ecstasy-or-hushed-up-drinking-and-sex/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) [Explore all 420 Joseph Heller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) ## More Believe in god quotes > [“The events of the world can have no separate life from the world. And yet the world itself can have no temporal view of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-events-of-the-world-can-have-no-separate-life-from-the-world-and/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. 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"For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [In life, we don't know why things happen. I believe God is not responsible for the bad things that happen to you. Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/in-life-we-don-t-know-why-things-happen-i-believe-god-is-not/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) > [I don't believe in angels and I have trouble with the whole God thing. I don't want to say I don't believe in God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-don-t-believe-in-angels-and-i-have-trouble-with-the-whole-god-thing/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [“if I asked people whether they believed in life, they’d never understand what I meant. It’s a bad question. It can mean so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-asked-people-whether-they-believed-in-life-they-d-never/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you believe in GOD you should never fear death. If human fears death then hill be easily enslaved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadair-desmar/if-you-believe-in-god-you-should-never-fear-death-if-human-fears/) [Nadair Desmar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadair-desmar/) > [I have never come to know God, to see God, to believe in God through doing science. He's not the conclusion of some sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-coyne/i-have-never-come-to-know-god-to-see-god-to-believe-in-god-through/) [George Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-coyne/) > [“Most witches don’t believe in gods. They know that the gods exist, of course. They even deal with them occasionally. 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He's not the mean and stupid God you make Him to be.' Yossarian laughed and turned her arms loose. 'Let's have a little more religious freedom between us,' he proposed obligingly. 'You don't believe in the God you want to, and I won't believe in the God I want to . 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