--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know. That's exactly the problem…" description: "\"“I know. That's exactly the problem. Ninety-nine percent of everything that goes on in most Christian churches has nothing whatsoever to do with the ac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/neal-stephenson-362_atheism_i-know-that-s-exactly-the-problem-ninety_2519149.png" --- # I know. That's exactly the problem. Ninety-nine percent of… ![“I know. That's exactly the problem. Ninety-nine percent of everything that goes on in most Christian churches has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual religion. Intelligent people all notice this sooner or later, and they conclude that the entire one hundred percent is bullshit, which is why…” quote by Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/neal-stephenson-362_atheism_i-know-that-s-exactly-the-problem-ninety_2519149.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/neal-stephenson-362_atheism_i-know-that-s-exactly-the-problem-ninety_2519149.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/neal-stephenson-362_atheism_i-know-that-s-exactly-the-problem-ninety_2519149.png) > ““I know. That's exactly the problem. Ninety-nine percent of everything that goes on in most Christian churches has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual religion. Intelligent people all notice this sooner or later, and they conclude that the entire one hundred percent is bullshit, which is why atheism is connected with being intelligent in people's minds.”” [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that most church activities are disconnected from core religious teachings, leading intelligent to view religion as irrational and associate atheism with intelligence. **In simple terms:** Churches often focus on non‑spiritual things. Key Takeaway Question the relevance of institutional practices. Themes religion intelligence skepticism culture belief Mood critical analytical Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - academic debate - public discourse - personal belief formation - media commentary Key Concepts Secular critique cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How does institutional focus affect personal faith? - Can intelligence and belief coexist? A Different Perspective Overgeneralizes all churches; may alienate believers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Christian church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-church/) [Intelligent people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sooner or later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sooner-or-later/) ## Related quotes > [Ninety-nine percent of everything that goes on in most Christian churches has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual religion. Intelligent people all notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/ninety-nine-percent-of-everything-that-goes-on-in-most-christian/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [It's total bullshit," he said. "The whole thing. Eighty percent survival rate and he's in the twenty percent? Bullshit. He was such a bright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/it-s-total-bullshit-he-said-the-whole-thing-eighty-percent-survival-3/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“It's total bullshit," he said. "The whole thing. Eighty percent survival rate and he's in the twenty percent? Bullshit…. But it was sure a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/it-s-total-bullshit-he-said-the-whole-thing-eighty-percent-survival/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [when I am alone in the forest I always say my prayers; and that occasional solitary communion with God is surely the only true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/when-i-am-alone-in-the-forest-i-always-say-my-prayers-and-that/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [There is not one single established religion that an intelligent, educated man can believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/there-is-not-one-single-established-religion-that-an-intelligent/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The difference between stupid and intelligent people - and this is true whether or not they are well-educated - is that intelligent people can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-difference-between-stupid-and-intelligent-people-and-this-is-true-2/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“The difference between stupid and intelligent people -- and this is true whether or not they are well-educated -- is that intelligent people can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-difference-between-stupid-and-intelligent-people-and-this-is-true/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Nell," the Constable continued, indicating through his tone of voice that the lesson was concluding, "the difference between ignorant and educated people is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/nell-the-constable-continued-indicating-through-his-tone-of-voice/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [It has been the scheme of the Christian Church, and of all the other invented systems of religion, to hold man in ignorance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-scheme-of-the-christian-church-and-of-all-the-other/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You may speak but a word to a child, and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/you-may-speak-but-a-word-to-a-child-and-in-that-child-there-may-be/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Only the Christian Church can offer any rational objection to a complete confidence in the rich. For she has maintained from the beginning that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/only-the-christian-church-can-offer-any-rational-objection-to-a/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“Thus that Upright Judge, whose three Letters my Friend having read, did well approve of 'em, acknowledging, that with great Exactness he had distinguished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stephens/thus-that-upright-judge-whose-three-letters-my-friend-having-read-did/) William Stephens > [“I do not go to church. I don’t go to Christian church or Jew church or any other church. I don’t go to church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/i-do-not-go-to-church-i-don-t-go-to-christian-church-or-jew-church-or/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [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/) ## More by Neal Stephenson > [“I study dead languages for a living,” I said. “That’s why you hired me. Why should I be up to speed on your line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-study-dead-languages-for-a-living-i-said-that-s-why-you-hired-me/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Other people - store clerks, burger flippers, software engineers, the whole vocabulary of meaningless jobs that make up Life in America - other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/other-people-store-clerks-burger-flippers-software-engineers-the/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“It is what you don’t expect,” he’d said, “that most needs looking for.” “Do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/it-is-what-you-don-t-expect-he-d-said-that-most-needs-looking-for-do/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“...the insects here see you as a big slab of animated but not very well defended food. The ability to move, far from being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-insects-here-see-you-as-a-big-slab-of-animated-but-not-very-well/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“There was no way that these guys were going to let a bleeding, barefoot woman simply wander off alone into the streets. Two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/there-was-no-way-that-these-guys-were-going-to-let-a-bleeding/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Space and Time! Two minor omissions that no one is likely to notice," grumbled Newton.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/space-and-time-two-minor-omissions-that-no-one-is-likely-to-notice/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [See, the world is full of things more powerful than us. But if you know how to catch a ride, you can go places,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/see-the-world-is-full-of-things-more-powerful-than-us-but-if-you-know/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Hey,” Shaftoe says, “if we surrender to you, you’ll kill us. Right?” “Yes.” “If you guys surrender to us, we won’t kill you. Promise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/hey-shaftoe-says-if-we-surrender-to-you-you-ll-kill-us-right-yes-if/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“My men think you are dead now, and won’t waste balls on you,” Jack said. “In fact I have let you live, but for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/my-men-think-you-are-dead-now-and-won-t-waste-balls-on-you-jack-said/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“You’ve probably heard the expression that the Industry feeds off of biomass, like a whale straining krill from the ocean.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/you-ve-probably-heard-the-expression-that-the-industry-feeds-off-of/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He’s got esprit up to here. Right now, he is preparing to carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-deliverator-belongs-to-an-elite-order-a-hallowed-subcategory-he-s/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Interesting things happen along borders - transitions - not in the middle where everything is the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/interesting-things-happen-along-borders-transitions-not-in-the-middle/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“and people could only make sense of complicated matters through stories. Likewise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/and-people-could-only-make-sense-of-complicated-matters-through/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Van Eck phreaking,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/van-eck-phreaking/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“When the Deliverator puts the hammer down, shit happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/when-the-deliverator-puts-the-hammer-down-shit-happens/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) [Explore all 633 Neal Stephenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## More Atheism 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/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. 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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/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? 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Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I know. That's exactly the problem. Ninety-nine percent of everything that goes on in most Christian churches has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual religion. 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