--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember walking past church services…" description: "\"“I remember walking past church services and wondering if it was all an elaborate hoax that everyone was in on but me. It felt like I was the only san..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/noah-lugeons-23011_hoax_i-remember-walking-past-church-services_2652682.jpg" --- # I remember walking past church services and wondering if… ![“I remember walking past church services and wondering if it was all an elaborate hoax that everyone was in on but me. It felt like I was the only sane person on the planet. I wanted to grab people as they came out of church and say, “can’t we at least agree that this is exactly what religion would…” quote by Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/noah-lugeons-23011_hoax_i-remember-walking-past-church-services_2652682.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/noah-lugeons-23011_hoax_i-remember-walking-past-church-services_2652682.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/noah-lugeons-23011_hoax_i-remember-walking-past-church-services_2652682.jpg) > ““I remember walking past church services and wondering if it was all an elaborate hoax that everyone was in on but me.  It felt like I was the only sane person on the planet. I wanted to grab people as they came out of church and say, “can’t we at least agree that this is exactly what religion would look like if it was just made up out of whole cloth to oppress people? ”” [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skepticism about organized religion can feel isolating, prompting a search for authentic belief or secular meaning. **In simple terms:** I felt alone questioning religion. Key Takeaway Seek authentic belief or secular purpose. Themes skepticism religion identity loneliness Mood introspective lonely Type philosophical personal When to use this quote - personal journaling - philosophical debates - community building Key Concepts critical thinking existential search Questions to Reflect On - How do you find community? - What values guide you beyond religion? A Different Perspective Isolation can lead to despair without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-say-1355723/) [Elaborate Hoax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elaborate-hoax-1276898/) [Hoax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoax/) [Hoax Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoax-felt-2362310/) [Sane Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sane-person/) ## Related quotes > [“Michaela wasn't someone Lilia ever trusted, but there was a certain kinship; she shared Lilia's suspicion that the world might prove, in the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-st-john-mandel/michaela-wasn-t-someone-lilia-ever-trusted-but-there-was-a-certain/) [Emily St. John Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-st-john-mandel/) > [The church say the earth is flat,but I know that it is round ,for I have seen the shadow on the moon,and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-church-say-the-earth-is-flat-but-i-know-that-it-is-round-for-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The question had become not “What does Jesus say?” but “What does the Church say?” This question is still being asked today. Sad but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-question-had-become-not-what-does-jesus-say-but-what-does-the/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“As a general observation, I think our high school and college-age students are wonderful, that they’re striving collectively, I think, to be as fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/as-a-general-observation-i-think-our-high-school-and-college-age/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [When I started singing, I was going to school. I remember some of the people in school singing, and they had a choir. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-alsina/when-i-started-singing-i-was-going-to-school-i-remember-some-of-the/) [August Alsina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-alsina/) > [Babies cry, make noise, go here and there. But it annoys me when a baby cries in church and there are those who say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/babies-cry-make-noise-go-here-and-there-but-it-annoys-me-when-a-baby/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“He will glory against the church, and say, ‘These are your holy preachers: you see what their preciseness is, and whither it will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/he-will-glory-against-the-church-and-say-these-are-your-holy/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“the only thing you'll remember your dad saying about religion at all is that it's more important to walk the walk he'll be tying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-beverly/the-only-thing-you-ll-remember-your-dad-saying-about-religion-at-all/) [H.G. Beverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-beverly/) > [I'm a pastor. I say, 'Let the church say amen,' and that settles it. Everything has been said, you know; it's like we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrae-crouch/i-m-a-pastor-i-say-let-the-church-say-amen-and-that-settles-it/) [Andrae Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrae-crouch/) > [The Church should say, 'I'm frightened that women will be ordained;' that's honest, say that. But don't say, 'It's a grave sin,' because that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/the-church-should-say-i-m-frightened-that-women-will-be-ordained-that/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [Before the church responded, a lot of people would ask us, 'Are you afraid of what the church would say?' And Trey and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-parker/before-the-church-responded-a-lot-of-people-would-ask-us-are-you/) [Trey Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-parker/) > [There are hours when the Church must say NO to those who should ask communion with her, in the doing of her work, upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-campbell-morgan/there-are-hours-when-the-church-must-say-no-to-those-who-should-ask/) [G. Campbell Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-campbell-morgan/) > [If you're going to say you're Catholic, you inform your conscience so that you're activities will conform to what God is telling us through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-george/if-you-re-going-to-say-you-re-catholic-you-inform-your-conscience-so/) [Francis George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-george/) > [It is just as proper, maybe even more so, to say Christ's global cause has a Church as to say Christ's Church has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bryant/it-is-just-as-proper-maybe-even-more-so-to-say-christ-s-global-cause/) [David Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bryant/) > [Church is the textured context in which we grow up in Christ to maturity. But church is difficult. Sooner or later, though, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/church-is-the-textured-context-in-which-we-grow-up-in-christ-to/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) ## More by Noah Lugeons > [“There is no greater threat to liberty, peace and progress than theocracy.  Right now the Muslims just happen to be leading the race when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/there-is-no-greater-threat-to-liberty-peace-and-progress-than/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“There’s always a good reason to berate Oprah.  Her empire is built entirely on bullshit.  She endorses pseudo-science, she promotes psychics, she gives voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/there-s-always-a-good-reason-to-berate-oprah-her-empire-is-built/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“anything that forces us to stop using our brains is a bad thing but especially when the thing that’s asking us not to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/anything-that-forces-us-to-stop-using-our-brains-is-a-bad-thing-but/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“if takes an asshole to challenge religion, the vanguard of the atheist movement will inevitably over-represent the assholes. Many have argued that we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/if-takes-an-asshole-to-challenge-religion-the-vanguard-of-the-atheist/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“You are the only thing standing between them and the theocracy they want.   Diatribe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/you-are-the-only-thing-standing-between-them-and-the-theocracy-they/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“I’ll say it again and again; there is no harmless version of faith. Faith is an attempt to replace reason with something other than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/i-ll-say-it-again-and-again-there-is-no-harmless-version-of-faith/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“So what exactly did Jesus say about gays?  Well, nothing actually, but he did say something about loving the least of god’s children. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/so-what-exactly-did-jesus-say-about-gays-well-nothing-actually-but-he/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“The very fact that such a thing as a degree in theology exists is an insult to education. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/the-very-fact-that-such-a-thing-as-a-degree-in-theology-exists-is-an/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“Sure, if you eat enough mushrooms and get in a sweat lodge, you’ll see all the bright lights and pretty colors Hubble has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/sure-if-you-eat-enough-mushrooms-and-get-in-a-sweat-lodge-you-ll-see/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“You can believe any insane, detrimental shit you want, but if you used reason to get there, I can reason you back out.  I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/you-can-believe-any-insane-detrimental-shit-you-want-but-if-you-used/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“Religion has had a free ride for too long and despite the growing murmurs of malcontents, the societal privilege afforded to faith remains a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/religion-has-had-a-free-ride-for-too-long-and-despite-the-growing/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“We got into this not because we believe religion is silly, but because we believe it is harmful. The fact that it’s silly just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/we-got-into-this-not-because-we-believe-religion-is-silly-but-because/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“As atheists, we stand in awe of a lot of things… but perhaps the thing I’m most in awe of is the stupidity it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/as-atheists-we-stand-in-awe-of-a-lot-of-things-but-perhaps-the-thing/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“I would argue that religion itself is a corruption.  Isn’t it good enough to look at Jesus as a dubiously historical moral philosopher that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/i-would-argue-that-religion-itself-is-a-corruption-isn-t-it-good/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“This person is actually invoking a career in taking advantage of people, deluding people, indoctrinating children, fighting against reality, opposing social progress and believing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/this-person-is-actually-invoking-a-career-in-taking-advantage-of/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) [Explore all 26 Noah Lugeons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) ## More Hoax quotes > [“No one can know, of course, accurate population figures from an era before there was a census, but many officials on the ground at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hochschild/no-one-can-know-of-course-accurate-population-figures-from-an-era/) [Adam Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hochschild/) > [President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/president-obama-is-the-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [In a secular age, an authentic miracle must purport to be a hoax, in order to gain credit in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/in-a-secular-age-an-authentic-miracle-must-purport-to-be-a-hoax-in/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [The 'Fake News Alert' Chrome extension, created by 'New York Magazine' journalist Brian Feldman, identifies hoax news articles. However, cutting out fake news source…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabrizio-moreira/the-fake-news-alert-chrome-extension-created-by-new-york-magazine/) [Fabrizio Moreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabrizio-moreira/) > [“Those two spots are among the darkest of our whole civilization--pardon me, our whole culture (an important distinction, I've heard)--which might sound like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/those-two-spots-are-among-the-darkest-of-our-whole-civilization/) [Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/) > [“I’m here Corinne. I’m here waiting for you to realize that helping you, listening to you, sitting in silence with you, holding you while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lila-felix/i-m-here-corinne-i-m-here-waiting-for-you-to-realize-that-helping-you/) [Lila Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lila-felix/) > [ “I just wish this social institution \[religion\] wasn't based on what appears to me to be a monumental hoax built on an accumulation of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/i-just-wish-this-social-institution-religion-wasn-t-based-on-what/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [I keep hearing from readers who say 'Hoax' helps them understand their own family a little bit better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/i-keep-hearing-from-readers-who-say-hoax-helps-them-understand-their/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [“Science Class Would you invent some irrational explanation for we lost souls that the glaciers aren’t really melting at all, that they are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-of-mayberry/science-class-would-you-invent-some-irrational-explanation-for-we/) [Diogenes of Mayberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-of-mayberry/) > [As is so often the case with pieces that appear in the 'Onion,' I honestly could not decide whether this was a clever hoax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/as-is-so-often-the-case-with-pieces-that-appear-in-the-onion-i/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Trying to teach creativity is the major hoax of our time along with the Iraq war and plastic surgery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/trying-to-teach-creativity-is-the-major-hoax-of-our-time-along-with/) [Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/) > [“Oh, I don't know. Is it that we collectively thought Steve Jobs was a great man, even when we knew he made billions off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/oh-i-don-t-know-is-it-that-we-collectively-thought-steve-jobs-was-a/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [There are some things I don't like, about which I think, well, that's me. But coriander is a giant hoax perpetrated by a perverted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/there-are-some-things-i-don-t-like-about-which-i-think-well-that-s-me/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [We all have a right to know, and if the government has been suppressing information about other life forms, that's the cruelest hoax of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/we-all-have-a-right-to-know-and-if-the-government-has-been/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) > [“Hoax needed to complete the premises of truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/hoax-needed-to-complete-the-premises-of-truth/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) [Browse all 77 Hoax quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoax/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I remember walking past church services and wondering if it was all an elaborate hoax that everyone was in on but me.  It felt like I was the only sane person on the planet. 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