--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Does it mean, if you don't understand…" description: "\"Does it mean, if you don't understand something, and the community of physicists don't understand it, that means God did it? Is that how you want to pl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_ass_does-it-mean-if-you-don-t-understand-som_2207378.png" --- # Does it mean, if you don't understand something, and the… ![“Does it mean, if you don't understand something, and the community of physicists don't understand it, that means God did it? Is that how you want to play this game? Because if it is, here's a list of things in the past that the physicists at the time didn't understand [and now we do understand]…” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_ass_does-it-mean-if-you-don-t-understand-som_2207378.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_ass_does-it-mean-if-you-don-t-understand-som_2207378.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_ass_does-it-mean-if-you-don-t-understand-som_2207378.png) > “Does it mean, if you don't understand something, and the community of physicists don't understand it, that means God did it? Is that how you want to play this game? Because if it is, here's a list of things in the past that the physicists at the time didn't understand \[and now we do understand\] \[...\]. If that's how you want to invoke your evidence for God, then God is an ever-receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller and smaller as time moves on - so just be ready for that to happen, if that's how you want to come at the problem” [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A critique of using scientific ignorance as evidence for God, arguing that unknowns shrink as knowledge expands. **In simple terms:** Unknown scientific phenomena shrink over time, not proof of God. Key Takeaway Recognize that gaps in knowledge are temporary, not divine. Themes science faith knowledge ignorance Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical debative When to use this quote - debates on religion - scientific research - education Key Concepts epistemology philosophy of science theology Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile scientific uncertainty with personal belief? - What role should faith play when science has no answer yet? A Different Perspective May overlook personal or philosophical reasons for belief beyond empirical evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad ass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-ass/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“If that's how you want invoke your evidence for God, then God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that is getting smaller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-that-s-how-you-want-invoke-your-evidence-for-god-then-god-is-an/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [God is an ever-receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller and smaller as time moves on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/god-is-an-ever-receding-pocket-of-scientific-ignorance-that-s-getting/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/god-is-an-ever-receding-pocket-of-scientific-ignorance/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Lack of scientific fundamentals causes people to make foolish decisions about issues such as the toxicity of chemicals, the efficacy of medicines, the changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-agre/lack-of-scientific-fundamentals-causes-people-to-make-foolish/) [Peter Agre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-agre/) > [The key point some Christians miss is that scientific ignorance about the beginning of life, or any of life's processes, is not evidence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-p-harrison/the-key-point-some-christians-miss-is-that-scientific-ignorance-about/) [Guy P. 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