--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought physics could be done to the…" description: "\"I thought physics could be done to the glory of God, till I saw there wasn’t any God at all and that physics was more interesting anyway. The Christian..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/philip-pullman-525_christian_i-thought-physics-could-be-done-to-the-g_1543621.jpg" --- # I thought physics could be done to the glory of God, till… ![“I thought physics could be done to the glory of God, till I saw there wasn’t any God at all and that physics was more interesting anyway. The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that’s all.” quote by Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/philip-pullman-525_christian_i-thought-physics-could-be-done-to-the-g_1543621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/philip-pullman-525_christian_i-thought-physics-could-be-done-to-the-g_1543621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/philip-pullman-525_christian_i-thought-physics-could-be-done-to-the-g_1543621.jpg) > “I thought physics could be done to the glory of God, till I saw there wasn’t any God at all and that physics was more interesting anyway. The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that’s all.” [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science offers wonder without divine purpose; religion is seen as an erroneous but powerful belief. **In simple terms:** Science is fascinating without God; religion is a strong mistake. Key Takeaway Value scientific curiosity over dogma. Themes science religion skepticism purpose Mood critical inquisitive Type analytical contemplative When to use this quote - education - public policy - personal belief systems - science communication Key Concepts atheism philosophy of science cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How does belief shape your view of the universe? - What role does wonder play in your life? A Different Perspective Dismisses the comfort religion can provide to many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-religion/) [Convincing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convincing/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Glory of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory-of-god/) [God Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-physics-5753712/) [His dark materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his-dark-materials/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Physics Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics-glory-5753713/) [Physics Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics-interesting-782105/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Very powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-powerful/) ## Related quotes > [The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/the-christian-religion-is-a-very-powerful-and-convincing-mistake/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Everything means something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/everything-means-something/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Tolkien seems to me reactionary, conservative, fearful of a modern world. Fearful of anything that isn't sanctioned by the passage of long eons of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/tolkien-seems-to-me-reactionary-conservative-fearful-of-a-modern/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“He let her do it, then looked around for his fingers. There they were, curled like a bloody quotation mark on the lead. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/he-let-her-do-it-then-looked-around-for-his-fingers-there-they-were/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [But we can trust him Roger, I swear," she said with a final effort,"Because he's Will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/but-we-can-trust-him-roger-i-swear-she-said-with-a-final-effort/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“Whenever you turn your head, your deaths dodge behind you. Wherever you look, they hide. They hide in a teacup. Or in a dewdrop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/whenever-you-turn-your-head-your-deaths-dodge-behind-you-wherever-you/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [So Lyra and her daemon turned away from the world they were born in, and looked toward the sun, and walked into the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/so-lyra-and-her-daemon-turned-away-from-the-world-they-were-born-in/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“Every atom of me and every atom of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/every-atom-of-me-and-every-atom-of-you/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“Well, where is God," said Mrs Coulter, "if he's alive? And why doesn't he speak anymore? At the beginning of the world, God walked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/well-where-is-god-said-mrs-coulter-if-he-s-alive-and-why-doesn-t-he/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Silly ideas, worth the admission price in smiles, but they're true. Is high-energy physics interesting because it's true or because it's crazy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/silly-ideas-worth-the-admission-price-in-smiles-but-they-re-true-is/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [So much of what we said sounded crazy, yet none of it was false... as if two theoretical physicists stood on stage to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/so-much-of-what-we-said-sounded-crazy-yet-none-of-it-was-false-as-if/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [From the point of view of basic physics, the most interesting phenomena are, of course, in the new places, the places where the rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/from-the-point-of-view-of-basic-physics-the-most-interesting/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [In 1948 I entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, undecided between studies of chemistry and physics, but my first year convinced me that physics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burton-richter/in-1948-i-entered-the-massachusetts-institute-of-technology-undecided/) [Burton Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burton-richter/) > [“The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that's all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/the-christian-religion-is-a-very-powerful-and-convincing-mistake-that/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“Religion is, as I say, something universal and something human, and something impossible to eradicate, nor would I want to eradicate it. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/religion-is-as-i-say-something-universal-and-something-human-and/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) ## More by Philip Pullman > [The state of mind which I put myself when I tell a story is one in which superstition flourishes very easily. And I welcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/the-state-of-mind-which-i-put-myself-when-i-tell-a-story-is-one-in/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Religion grants its adherents malign, intoxicating and morally corrosive sensations. Destroying intellectual freedom is always evil, but only religion makes doing evil feel quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/religion-grants-its-adherents-malign-intoxicating-and-morally/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [We don't need lists of rights and wrongs, tables of do's and don'ts: we need books, time, and silence. Thou shalt not is soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/we-don-t-need-lists-of-rights-and-wrongs-tables-of-do-s-and-don-ts-we/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [I have stolen ideas from every book I have ever read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/i-have-stolen-ideas-from-every-book-i-have-ever-read/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [All the stories of the Bible that I know came to me first from my grandfather's lips... He would see stories in everything. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/all-the-stories-of-the-bible-that-i-know-came-to-me-first-from-my/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [What I do say is that I can write verse, and that the writing of verse in strict form is the best possible training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/what-i-do-say-is-that-i-can-write-verse-and-that-the-writing-of-verse/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Writing is tyranny ... but reading is democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/writing-is-tyranny-but-reading-is-democracy/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“Middlemarch is a novel that is diminished by being put on the screen. It can't help but be, because so much of what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/middlemarch-is-a-novel-that-is-diminished-by-being-put-on-the-screen/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [I have maintained a passionate interest in education, which leads me occasionally to make foolish and ill-considered remarks alleging that not everything is well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/i-have-maintained-a-passionate-interest-in-education-which-leads-me/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [And think what worrying does: has anyone ever added a single hour to the length of his life by worrying about it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/and-think-what-worrying-does-has-anyone-ever-added-a-single-hour-to/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“The question authors get asked more than any other is "Where do you get your ideas from?" And we all find a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/the-question-authors-get-asked-more-than-any-other-is-where-do-you/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“We are all subject to the fates. But we must all act as if we are not,” said the witch, “or die of despair.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/we-are-all-subject-to-the-fates-but-we-must-all-act-as-if-we-are-not/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Lonely? I don't know. They tell me this is cold. I don't know what cold is, because I don't freeze. So I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/lonely-i-don-t-know-they-tell-me-this-is-cold-i-don-t-know-what-cold/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Just finished 'Secrecy' - truly enthralling both as a love story and as a tale of suspense - but much more than both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/just-finished-secrecy-truly-enthralling-both-as-a-love-story-and-as-a/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“As Auden is believed to have said, no poem saved a single Jew from the gas chambers. Never mind. Write the poems anyway. Play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/as-auden-is-believed-to-have-said-no-poem-saved-a-single-jew-from-the/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) [Explore all 479 Philip Pullman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [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/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought physics could be done to the glory of God, till I saw there wasn’t any God at all and that physics was more interesting anyway. The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that’s all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip Pullman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/i-thought-physics-could-be-done-to-the-glory-of-god-till-i-saw-there/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/i-thought-physics-could-be-done-to-the-glory-of-god-till-i-saw-there/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/philip-pullman-525_christian_i-thought-physics-could-be-done-to-the-g_1543621.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/philip-pullman-525_christian_i-thought-physics-could-be-done-to-the-g_1543621.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/philip-pullman-525_christian_i-thought-physics-could-be-done-to-the-g_1543621.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I thought physics could be done to the glory of God, till I saw there wasn’t any God at all and that physics…” — Philip Pullman", "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": "Philip Pullman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I thought physics could be done...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/i-thought-physics-could-be-done-to-the-glory-of-god-till-i-saw-there/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/i-thought-physics-could-be-done-to-the-glory-of-god-till-i-saw-there/#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 } } ] } ```