--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In short, I didn't become a Christian…" description: "\"In short, I didn't become a Christian because God promised I would have an even happier life than I had as an atheist. He never promised any such thing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/lee-strobel-7937_atheist_in-short-i-didn-t-become-a-christian-bec_946255.jpg" --- # In short, I didn't become a Christian because God promised… ![“In short, I didn't become a Christian because God promised I would have an even happier life than I had as an atheist. He never promised any such thing. Indeed, following him would inevitably bring divine demotions in the eyes of the world. Rather, I became a Christian because the evidence was so…” quote by Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/lee-strobel-7937_atheist_in-short-i-didn-t-become-a-christian-bec_946255.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/lee-strobel-7937_atheist_in-short-i-didn-t-become-a-christian-bec_946255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/lee-strobel-7937_atheist_in-short-i-didn-t-become-a-christian-bec_946255.jpg) > “In short, I didn't become a Christian because God promised I would have an even happier life than I had as an atheist. He never promised any such thing. Indeed, following him would inevitably bring divine demotions in the eyes of the world. Rather, I became a Christian because the evidence was so compelling that Jesus really is the one-and-only Son of God who proved his divinity by rising from the dead. That meant following him was the most rational and logical step I could possibly take.” [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He became Christian because compelling evidence, not promised happiness, convinced him of Jesus’ divinity and logical truth. **In simple terms:** Evidence, not happiness, led him to Christianity. Key Takeaway Seek evidence when forming beliefs. Themes faith evidence reason spirituality Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - debates - personal study - teaching - public speaking Key Concepts apologetics philosophy history Questions to Reflect On - What evidence matters most to you? - How do you balance reason and emotion? A Different Perspective Evidence may not satisfy emotional or cultural expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-god/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Divinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divinity/) [Happier life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happier-life/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Only son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only-son/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Son of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son-of-god/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Maybe my steps were slow. Maybe it was because I was relishing each one, like each represented an obstacle we'd had to climb, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/maybe-my-steps-were-slow-maybe-it-was-because-i-was-relishing-each/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [I don't feel like God called me to be a Gospel singer. He didn't call me to be a Christian singer, he called me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-turner/i-don-t-feel-like-god-called-me-to-be-a-gospel-singer-he-didn-t-call/) [Josh Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-turner/) > [I would not have said anything about Mr. Trump, never - I would never have said anything if he didn't call himself a Christian.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-would-not-have-said-anything-about-mr-trump-never-i-would-never/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [You've got to walk and talk with God to go to heaven... I have the devil in me! If I didn't have, I'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lee-lewis/you-ve-got-to-walk-and-talk-with-god-to-go-to-heaven-i-have-the-devil/) [Jerry Lee Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lee-lewis/) > [I didn't become a Christian until many years later, when I moved to the South Side of Chicago after college. It happened not because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-didn-t-become-a-christian-until-many-years-later-when-i-moved-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If you take going to the bench as a demotion or something that's terrible, you start with a bad attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-ginobili/if-you-take-going-to-the-bench-as-a-demotion-or-something-that-s/) [Manu Ginobili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-ginobili/) > [Every now and again it would be considered wholesome for me to be more with people of my own age. Demotion to such company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/every-now-and-again-it-would-be-considered-wholesome-for-me-to-be/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [I remember that one time Carl Sagan was giving a talk, and he spelled out, in a kind of withering succession, these great theories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/i-remember-that-one-time-carl-sagan-was-giving-a-talk-and-he-spelled/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [“Courage promotes leaders; fear demotes them. Most people who have difficulties climbing up success ladders are fans of fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/courage-promotes-leaders-fear-demotes-them-most-people-who-have/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The entire life of Jesus isn't the story of somebody climbing up a ladder; it's a picture of someone coming down-a series of demotions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-entire-life-of-jesus-isn-t-the-story-of-somebody-climbing-up-a/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Their military training will ensure success in war, but they must maintain unity by not allowing the state to grow to large, and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/their-military-training-will-ensure-success-in-war-but-they-must/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The holy God proved holy by his righteous acts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-god-proved-holy-by-his-righteous-acts/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I'm going to use whatever God blesses me with as a platform to tell the world that God is for you. He proved it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jase-robertson/i-m-going-to-use-whatever-god-blesses-me-with-as-a-platform-to-tell/) [Jase Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jase-robertson/) > [...I might continue to believe that there is no god even if it were proved that there is. A religious friend of mine once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/i-might-continue-to-believe-that-there-is-no-god-even-if-it-were/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, 'I love you.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/god-proved-his-love-on-the-cross-when-christ-hung-and-bled-and-died/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) ## More by Lee Strobel > [I think it's very healthy to use journalistic and legal techniques to investigate the evidence for and against Christianity and other faith systems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/i-think-it-s-very-healthy-to-use-journalistic-and-legal-techniques-to/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [“Mother Teresa used the analogy of electricity: “The wire is you and me; the current is God,” she said. “We have the power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/mother-teresa-used-the-analogy-of-electricity-the-wire-is-you-and-me/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [I certainly believe that God did create the world, yeah, absolutely I believe that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/i-certainly-believe-that-god-did-create-the-world-yeah-absolutely-i/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [“CRUNCH! Izzy jumped off the bench, which made Alex laugh all over again. “Chill out.” He pointed at a cloud of smoke. “Look, it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/crunch-izzy-jumped-off-the-bench-which-made-alex-laugh-all-over-again/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [So much of the world's suffering results from the sinful action or inaction of ourselves and others. For example, people look at a famine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/so-much-of-the-world-s-suffering-results-from-the-sinful-action-or/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [I am primarily a writer of books, and I enjoy that. But I come to realize that a lot of people prefer a visual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/i-am-primarily-a-writer-of-books-and-i-enjoy-that-but-i-come-to/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [Science itself is steadily nailing the lid on atheism's coffin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/science-itself-is-steadily-nailing-the-lid-on-atheism-s-coffin/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [If your friend is sick and dying, the most important thing he wants is not an explanation; he wants you to sit with him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/if-your-friend-is-sick-and-dying-the-most-important-thing-he-wants-is/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [The Internet has helped atheists and agnostics coalesce as never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/the-internet-has-helped-atheists-and-agnostics-coalesce-as-never/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [Apologetics has an important place in the local church as we seek to influence our communities for Christ in an increasingly skeptical culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/apologetics-has-an-important-place-in-the-local-church-as-we-seek-to/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [You cannot build your life with a consistent worldview that is on the shifting sands of moral relativism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/you-cannot-build-your-life-with-a-consistent-worldview-that-is-on-the/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [“Craig summarized his next point succinctly at the outset: “A third factor pointing toward God is the existence of objective moral values in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/craig-summarized-his-next-point-succinctly-at-the-outset-a-third/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [To be honest, I didn't want to believe that Christianity could radically transform someone's character and values. It was much easier to raise doubts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/to-be-honest-i-didn-t-want-to-believe-that-christianity-could/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [I'm all for lifestyle evangelism, but I'm also in favor of intentionality, where we seek out opportunities for spiritual conversations and are equipped to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/i-m-all-for-lifestyle-evangelism-but-i-m-also-in-favor-of/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [“We have to ask, Why is there no other first-century Jew who has millions of followers today? Why isn’t there a John the Baptist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/we-have-to-ask-why-is-there-no-other-first-century-jew-who-has/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) [Explore all 86 Lee Strobel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) ## 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": "In short, I didn't become a Christian because God promised I would have an even happier life than I had as an atheist. He never promised any such thing. Indeed, following him would inevitably bring divine demotions in the eyes of the world. 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