---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The atheist would never believe that the…"
description: "\"“The atheist would never believe that the spiritual realm exists, unless the spiritual realm decides to scare them with a near-death or out-of- the -bo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/michael-bassey-johnson-311_atheists_the-atheist-would-never-believe-that-the_1458624.jpg"
---

#  The atheist would never believe that the spiritual realm…

![“The atheist would never believe that the spiritual realm exists, unless the spiritual realm decides to scare them with a near-death or out-of- the -body experience.” quote by Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/michael-bassey-johnson-311_atheists_the-atheist-would-never-believe-that-the_1458624.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/michael-bassey-johnson-311_atheists_the-atheist-would-never-believe-that-the_1458624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/michael-bassey-johnson-311_atheists_the-atheist-would-never-believe-that-the_1458624.jpg)

> ““The atheist would never believe that the spiritual realm exists, unless the spiritual realm decides to scare them with a near-death or out-of- the -body experience.””

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Atheists may only accept a spiritual realm after a frightening near‑death experience.

**In simple terms:** Fear can open belief.

Key Takeaway

Consider experiences that challenge beliefs.

Themes

faith skepticism experience

Mood

thoughtful introspective

Type

philosophical contemplative

When to use this quote

- medical emergencies
- life‑changing events
- philosophical debates

Key Concepts

near‑death spirituality psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What experiences could shift your worldview?
- Can fear be a reliable guide?

A Different Perspective

Not all experiences lead to belief.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Atheists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheists/) [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Near death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/near-death/) [Realities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realities/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sensitivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitivity/) [Unbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbelief/) [Unbeliever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbeliever/)

## Related quotes

> [“The feeling was less like chemical intoxication than being drunk on life. Spinning round and round, he experienced absolute bliss— unadulterated and unconfined—in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/the-feeling-was-less-like-chemical-intoxication-than-being-drunk-on/)

[Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/)

> [It is futile to try to explain time in a place where time does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasey-clark/it-is-futile-to-try-to-explain-time-in-a-place-where-time-does-not/)

Kasey Clark

> [“I was surrounded by ripples and cascades of Light, rising and falling all around me, like immense waves in the middle of a huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristael-ann-bengtson/i-was-surrounded-by-ripples-and-cascades-of-light-rising-and-falling/)

Cristael Ann Bengtson

> [“I found myself whirling around and falling down and down. My life memories were spinning around me, flashing like thousands of brilliant pictures with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristael-ann-bengtson/i-found-myself-whirling-around-and-falling-down-and-down-my-life/)

Cristael Ann Bengtson

> [“Isn't the human body a miracle”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-flynn/isn-t-the-human-body-a-miracle/)

Shane Flynn

> [“The most common descriptions I have found of the moment when death occurs is that there is a feeling of coldness and then suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-cannon/the-most-common-descriptions-i-have-found-of-the-moment-when-death/)

[Dolores Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-cannon/)

> [“We've heard that you don't need a near-death experience to see Guardians. Just be more wide awake when you dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefanie-samek/we-ve-heard-that-you-don-t-need-a-near-death-experience-to-see/)

Stefanie Samek

> [I am one of those who believe that spiritual progress is a rule of human life, but the approach to perfection is slow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/i-am-one-of-those-who-believe-that-spiritual-progress-is-a-rule-of/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

> [The natural man must know in order to believe; The spiritual man must believe in order to know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-natural-man-must-know-in-order-to-believe-the-spiritual-man-must/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [When people say do you believe in God? what do they mean by it? Do I believe in some spiritual force in the world?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/when-people-say-do-you-believe-in-god-what-do-they-mean-by-it-do-i/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [“I believe everyone is on a spiritual path—some people know it, some don’t. The ones that know it call themselves religious, spiritual, or Soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mildon/i-believe-everyone-is-on-a-spiritual-path-some-people-know-it-some/)

[Emma Mildon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mildon/)

> [Concord is just as idiotic as ever in relation to the spirits and their knockings. Most people here believe in a spiritual world ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-is-just-as-idiotic-as-ever-in-relation-to-the-spirits-and/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [A lot has happened since Dr. King left us. He probably wouldn't recognize the landscape if he saw it, but I still believe he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-dees/a-lot-has-happened-since-dr-king-left-us-he-probably-wouldn-t/)

[Morris Dees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-dees/)

> [I very much believe in things unseen, both of positive and destructive energy, and I have never seen The Exorcist through from start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/i-very-much-believe-in-things-unseen-both-of-positive-and-destructive/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [“No matter how separated we are by what we think and believe, we are part of the same spiritual story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/no-matter-how-separated-we-are-by-what-we-think-and-believe-we-are/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

## More by Michael Bassey Johnson

> [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Anything you fear is a shackle to ur soul. It is a phobia that tethers and blinds ur ability to see and comprehend your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/anything-you-fear-is-a-shackle-to-ur-soul-it-is-a-phobia-that-tethers/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“The human eye is restricted to see the useen, because there’s a price to be paid to the rulers of this image and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-human-eye-is-restricted-to-see-the-useen-because-there-s-a-price/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“-We need more love, to supersede hatred, -We need more strength, to resist our weaknesses, -We need more inspiration, to lighten up our innermind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/we-need-more-love-to-supersede-hatred-we-need-more-strength-to-resist/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Don't pretend to be what you're not, instead, pretend to what you want to be, it is not pretence, it is a journey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-pretend-to-be-what-you-re-not-instead-pretend-to-what-you-want/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“A lot can be done with courage, than with years wasted on the search for perfection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-lot-can-be-done-with-courage-than-with-years-wasted-on-the-search/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Any fool that had once helped you will someday make known to everyone that you were once a needy. No matter how broke you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/any-fool-that-had-once-helped-you-will-someday-make-known-to-everyone/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Sex doesn't satisfy for a lifetime, the more you have it, the more you want it. And the more you have it, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/sex-doesn-t-satisfy-for-a-lifetime-the-more-you-have-it-the-more-you/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“It is easy to criticize the antisocial, but hard to get close to know what keeps them at bay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-easy-to-criticize-the-antisocial-but-hard-to-get-close-to-know/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“There's no difference between a madman and a professor...it should be clear to you in the way they dress, act and think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-s-no-difference-between-a-madman-and-a-professor-it-should-be/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“People run away from the love game because they know they won't win the race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/people-run-away-from-the-love-game-because-they-know-they-won-t-win/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“When you favour a woman, she will want to return the favour in so many means, but its better to rupidiate such offerings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-you-favour-a-woman-she-will-want-to-return-the-favour-in-so-many/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“When pain inspires you, your thoughts scream its lungs out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-pain-inspires-you-your-thoughts-scream-its-lungs-out/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Petrichor is the earth unearthing itself on a rainy day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/petrichor-is-the-earth-unearthing-itself-on-a-rainy-day/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Laugh now, and laugh hard. For laughter is the bell. And when it rings, it cleanses the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/laugh-now-and-laugh-hard-for-laughter-is-the-bell-and-when-it-rings/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

[Explore all 703 Michael Bassey Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

## 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 &amp; Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences &amp; 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": "“The atheist would never believe that the spiritual realm exists, unless the spiritual realm decides to scare them with a near-death or out-of- the -body experience.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Bassey Johnson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-atheist-would-never-believe-that-the-spiritual-realm-exists/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Atheist"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-atheist-would-never-believe-that-the-spiritual-realm-exists/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/michael-bassey-johnson-311_atheists_the-atheist-would-never-believe-that-the_1458624.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/michael-bassey-johnson-311_atheists_the-atheist-would-never-believe-that-the_1458624.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/michael-bassey-johnson-311_atheists_the-atheist-would-never-believe-that-the_1458624.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The atheist would never believe that the spiritual realm exists, unless the spiritual realm decides to scare…” — Michael Bassey Johnson",
                "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": "Michael Bassey Johnson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The atheist would never believe that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-atheist-would-never-believe-that-the-spiritual-realm-exists/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-atheist-would-never-believe-that-the-spiritual-realm-exists/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
