--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God can be good and terrible-not in…" description: "\"God can be good and terrible-not in succession-but at the same time. This is why we seek a mediator between us and him; we approach him through the med..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/philip-k-dick-502_approach_god-can-be-good-and-terrible-not-in-succ_2586674.jpg" --- # God can be good and terrible-not in succession-but at the… ![“God can be good and terrible-not in succession-but at the same time. This is why we seek a mediator between us and him; we approach him through the mediating priest and attenuate and enclose him through the sacraments. It is for our own safety: to trap him within confines which render him safe.” quote by Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/philip-k-dick-502_approach_god-can-be-good-and-terrible-not-in-succ_2586674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/philip-k-dick-502_approach_god-can-be-good-and-terrible-not-in-succ_2586674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/philip-k-dick-502_approach_god-can-be-good-and-terrible-not-in-succ_2586674.jpg) > “God can be good and terrible-not in succession-but at the same time. This is why we seek a mediator between us and him; we approach him through the mediating priest and attenuate and enclose him through the sacraments. It is for our own safety: to trap him within confines which render him safe.” [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity tries to control divine power through rituals, but this limits true understanding. **In simple terms:** People use religion to tame God. Key Takeaway Seek direct experience over mediated belief. Themes faith theology human control Mood reflective skeptical Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - personal spirituality - philosophical inquiry - religious practice Key Concepts mediator sacraments divine mystery Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to truly encounter the divine? - Can rituals ever fully contain the sacred? A Different Perspective Mediated belief can obscure personal insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Be good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/) [Enclose Sacraments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enclose-sacraments-1825020/) [God Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-good/) [Mediating Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediating-priest-1825018/) [Mediators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediators/) [Priest Attenuate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priest-attenuate-1825021/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Sacraments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacraments/) [Sacraments Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacraments-safety-1825019/) [Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Succession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succession/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Traps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traps/) ## Related quotes > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Dare to love God without mediator or veil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/dare-to-love-god-without-mediator-or-veil/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [There can be no understanding between the hand and the brain unless the heart acts as mediator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-lang/there-can-be-no-understanding-between-the-hand-and-the-brain-unless/) [Fritz Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-lang/) > [Behold Jesus Christ crucified, Who is the only foundation of our hope; He is our Mediator and Advocate; the victim and sacrifice for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-borromeo/behold-jesus-christ-crucified-who-is-the-only-foundation-of-our-hope/) [Carlo Borromeo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-borromeo/) > [There is no intercessor, angel, mediator, between man and God; for man can speak and God hear, each for himself. He requires no advocates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/there-is-no-intercessor-angel-mediator-between-man-and-god-for-man/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) > [I think rappers are the fall guy because some of us don't have the wits to point the finger back. 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Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Jesus is the mediator of justice; Mary obtains for us grace; for, as St. Bernard, St. Bonaventure, St. Bernardine of Siena, St. Germanus, St.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/jesus-is-the-mediator-of-justice-mary-obtains-for-us-grace-for-as-st/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [Within these premises, the only thing one can be is an impeccable mediator. 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The manic psychoses of those entities we referred to as states, institutions, systems -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-day-came-the-wrath-descended-sin-guilt-and-retribution-the-manic/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The church of my choice is the free, open world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-church-of-my-choice-is-the-free-open-world/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“I see,' Rick said. He felt numb. Completely. Throughout his entire body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-see-rick-said-he-felt-numb-completely-throughout-his-entire-body/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“What is identity? he asked himself. Where does the act end? Nobody knows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/what-is-identity-he-asked-himself-where-does-the-act-end-nobody-knows/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [You're killing yourself with cynicism. Your idols got taken away from you one by one and now you have nothing to give your love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/you-re-killing-yourself-with-cynicism-your-idols-got-taken-away-from/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [What scared me the most was when my father would put on the gasmask. His face would disappear... This was not a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/what-scared-me-the-most-was-when-my-father-would-put-on-the-gasmask/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“A man is an angel that has become deranged, Joe Fernwright thought. Once they – all of them – had been genuine angels, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/a-man-is-an-angel-that-has-become-deranged-joe-fernwright-thought/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“When do I see a photograph, when a reflection?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/when-do-i-see-a-photograph-when-a-reflection/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [My major preoccupation is the question, 'What is reality?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/my-major-preoccupation-is-the-question-what-is-reality/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) [Explore all 489 Philip K. Dick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) ## More Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. 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