--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thank God in an atheist." description: "\"“Thank God in an atheist.”\" — Mal Peet" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/mal-peet-15262_atheist_thank-god-in-an-atheist-3083449_3083449.jpg" --- # Thank God in an atheist. ![“Thank God in an atheist.” quote by Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/mal-peet-15262_atheist_thank-god-in-an-atheist-3083449_3083449.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/mal-peet-15262_atheist_thank-god-in-an-atheist-3083449_3083449.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/mal-peet-15262_atheist_thank-god-in-an-atheist-3083449_3083449.jpg) > ““Thank God in an atheist.”” [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expresses gratitude for a higher power despite being an atheist, highlighting paradoxical faith or irony. **In simple terms:** Thanks to God even as an atheist. Key Takeaway Embrace paradoxical beliefs. Themes faith irony paradox gratitude Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal reflection - public speaking - writing - debate Key Concepts existentialism theology cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile doubt with gratitude? - What role does irony play in your worldview? A Different Perspective May alienate those expecting literal belief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ## Related quotes > [An atheist, like a Christian, holds that we can know whether or not there is a God. The Christian holds that we can know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/an-atheist-like-a-christian-holds-that-we-can-know-whether-or-not/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It is philosophically impossible to be an atheist, since to be an atheist you must have infinite knowledge in order to know absolutely that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-carlson/it-is-philosophically-impossible-to-be-an-atheist-since-to-be-an/) [Ron Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-carlson/) > [I do not believe in God and I am not an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-do-not-believe-in-god-and-i-am-not-an-atheist/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I'm still an atheist, thank God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/i-m-still-an-atheist-thank-god/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [Every night I thank God for giving me you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-night-i-thank-god-for-giving-me-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“no one can be an atheist who does not know all things. Only God is an atheist. The devil is the greatest believer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/no-one-can-be-an-atheist-who-does-not-know-all-things-only-god-is-an/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [God made me an Atheist!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-made-me-an-atheist/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God made me an atheist. Who are you to question his wisdom?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-made-me-an-atheist-who-are-you-to-question-his-wisdom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do not believe in God. I'm an atheist. I consider myself a critical thinker, and it fascinates me that in the 21st century…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-macfarlane/i-do-not-believe-in-god-i-m-an-atheist-i-consider-myself-a-critical/) [Seth MacFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-macfarlane/) > [I can never join Calvin in addressing his god. He was indeed an Atheist, which I can never be; or rather his religion was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-can-never-join-calvin-in-addressing-his-god-he-was-indeed-an/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [An Atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god. An Atheist knows that heaven is something for which we should work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/an-atheist-loves-himself-and-his-fellow-man-instead-of-a-god-an/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [We shall say without hesitation that the atheist who is moved by love is moved by the Spirit of God; an atheist who lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-temple/we-shall-say-without-hesitation-that-the-atheist-who-is-moved-by-love/) [William Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-temple/) > [I feel most spiritual when I'm out in the woods. I feel part of nature. Or looking up at the stars. \[I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/i-feel-most-spiritual-when-i-m-out-in-the-woods-i-feel-part-of-nature-2/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [I profess no belief in God, which by definition is true, especially if we take the accepted definition of God. But to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-profess-no-belief-in-god-which-by-definition-is-true-especially-if/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Thank God, I am still an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/thank-god-i-am-still-an-atheist/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) ## More by Mal Peet > [History is the heavy traffic that prevents us from crossing the road. We're not especially interested in what it consists of. We wait, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/history-is-the-heavy-traffic-that-prevents-us-from-crossing-the-road/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“You do not win a war by dying for your country. You win a war by making sure that some poor bastard dies for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/you-do-not-win-a-war-by-dying-for-your-country-you-win-a-war-by/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“This line of reasoning could have frightened him, but it did not. He gained a certain strength from it. Because, after all, what can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/this-line-of-reasoning-could-have-frightened-him-but-it-did-not-he/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“Unfortunately, however, weapons of mass destruction tend to attract maniacs: men - it's almost always men - who want to jab the red button…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/unfortunately-however-weapons-of-mass-destruction-tend-to-attract/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“Boredom had not been among the dangers that the SOE had prepared him for. No pompous little officer had stood in front of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/boredom-had-not-been-among-the-dangers-that-the-soe-had-prepared-him/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“Wagstaff was a trim little man in a dark-blue uniform with an armband embroidered with the words CIVIL DEFENSE. "Thank you, Headmaster, and good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/wagstaff-was-a-trim-little-man-in-a-dark-blue-uniform-with-an-armband/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“Let me tell you something. When there is a penalty kick, most people think that the penalty taker is in control. But they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/let-me-tell-you-something-when-there-is-a-penalty-kick-most-people/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“Sprawled, bloody, holding the pistol, he looked like a police photograph of a suicide. Dart went back to his chair and picked up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/sprawled-bloody-holding-the-pistol-he-looked-like-a-police-photograph/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“I can explain to you why algebra is useful. But that is not what algebra is really for.' He moved his fingers gently on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/i-can-explain-to-you-why-algebra-is-useful-but-that-is-not-what/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“So? You think people stop talking to you when they are dead?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/so-you-think-people-stop-talking-to-you-when-they-are-dead/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“It still, after all these years, puts frost into my blood to remember that men like LeMay and Powers had their fingers so close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/it-still-after-all-these-years-puts-frost-into-my-blood-to-remember/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [Sentimentality and nostalgia are closely related. Kissing cousins. I have no time for nostalgia, though. Nostalgics believe the past is nicer than the present.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/sentimentality-and-nostalgia-are-closely-related-kissing-cousins-i/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“Shit! Those sons a bitches Russians!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/shit-those-sons-a-bitches-russians/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“Kennedy was not perfectly sure that Khrushchev was an entirely rational being. He was not absolutely certain that the Soviet Union wouldn't be happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/kennedy-was-not-perfectly-sure-that-khrushchev-was-an-entirely/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“What I'm trying to explain to my sulky little cousin is that we are doing things backwards. We are going from the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/what-i-m-trying-to-explain-to-my-sulky-little-cousin-is-that-we-are/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) [Explore all 42 Mal Peet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) ## 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": "“Thank God in an atheist.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mal Peet" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/thank-god-in-an-atheist/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/thank-god-in-an-atheist/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/mal-peet-15262_atheist_thank-god-in-an-atheist-3083449_3083449.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/mal-peet-15262_atheist_thank-god-in-an-atheist-3083449_3083449.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/mal-peet-15262_atheist_thank-god-in-an-atheist-3083449_3083449.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Thank God in an atheist.” — Mal Peet", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mal Peet", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Thank God in an atheist.”", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/thank-god-in-an-atheist/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/thank-god-in-an-atheist/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```