Atheism Quote by Leonard Peikoff
““Every argument for God and every attribute ascribed to Him rests on a false metaphysical premise. None can survive for a moment on a correct metaphysics… Existence exists, and only existence exists. Existence is a primary: it is uncreated, indestructible, eternal. So if you are to postulate something beyond existence—some supernatural realm—you must do it by openly denying reason, dispensing with definitions, proofs, arguments, and saying flatly, “To Hell with argument, I have faith.” That, of course, is a willful rejection of reason. Objectivism advocates reason as man’s sole means of knowledge, and therefore, for the reasons I have already given, it is atheist. It denies any supernatural dimension presented as a contradiction of nature, of existence. This applies not only to God, but also to every variant of the supernatural ever advocated or to be advocated. In other words, we accept reality, and that’s all.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, Leonard Peikoff, 1991
Reason alone can grasp reality; any claim beyond existence denies rational foundations and is atheistic.
In simple terms: Only existence is real; faith rejects reason.
Key Takeaway
Rely on reason, reject supernatural claims.
Themes
reason
atheism
reality
philosophy
objectivism
Mood
analytical
critical
serious
Type
philosophical
skeptical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- personal belief
- ethical decision making
- public policy
- education
Key Concepts
metaphysics
epistemology
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does one find meaning without supernatural belief?
- Can reason alone guide moral choices?
A Different Perspective
Reason may not address emotional or existential needs that people seek in faith.
![“[There is] a widespread approach to ideas which Objectivism repudiates altogether: agnosticism. I mean this term in a sense which applies to the question of God, but to many other issues also, such as extra-sensory perception or the claim that the stars influence man’s destiny. In regard to all…” quote by Leonard Peikoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f5f/leonard-peikoff-29375_agnosticism_there-is-a-widespread-approach-to-ideas_1251970.jpg)
