--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're not trying to prove the character…" description: "\"We're not trying to prove the character of God through science. That's a bad idea. What I'm trying to do is clear away the misunderstandings, the debri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/phillip-e-johnson-14758_accepting_we-re-not-trying-to-prove-the-character_1318822.png" --- # We're not trying to prove the character of God through… ![“We're not trying to prove the character of God through science. That's a bad idea. What I'm trying to do is clear away the misunderstandings, the debris that prevent people from accepting that God who wants to accept them.” quote by Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/phillip-e-johnson-14758_accepting_we-re-not-trying-to-prove-the-character_1318822.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/phillip-e-johnson-14758_accepting_we-re-not-trying-to-prove-the-character_1318822.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/phillip-e-johnson-14758_accepting_we-re-not-trying-to-prove-the-character_1318822.png) > “We're not trying to prove the character of God through science. That's a bad idea. What I'm trying to do is clear away the misunderstandings, the debris that prevent people from accepting that God who wants to accept them.” [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science cannot prove or disprove God; it can only clarify misconceptions that block spiritual acceptance. **In simple terms:** Science and faith address different questions. Key Takeaway Use science to clear misunderstandings, not to argue faith. Themes faith science misconception Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - interfaith discussions - public lectures - personal belief formation Key Concepts epistemology theology dialogue Questions to Reflect On - How can scientific literacy improve spiritual openness? - What misconceptions hinder faith acceptance? A Different Perspective Science alone cannot resolve theological debates; dialogue is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-god/) [Bad idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-idea/) [Bad ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-ideas/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-of-god/) [God Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-science/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Misunderstandings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstandings/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [The true foundation of theology is to ascertain the character of God. It is by the aid of Statistics that law in the social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/the-true-foundation-of-theology-is-to-ascertain-the-character-of-god/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [The character of God is today, and always will be, exactly what it was in Bible times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/the-character-of-god-is-today-and-always-will-be-exactly-what-it-was/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Laws are essential emanations from the self-poised character of God; they radiate from the sun to the circling edge of creation. Verily, the mighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/laws-are-essential-emanations-from-the-self-poised-character-of-god/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Nothing can alter the character of God. In the course of a human life, tastes and outlook and temper may change radically: a kind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/nothing-can-alter-the-character-of-god-in-the-course-of-a-human-life/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/if-men-do-not-comprehend-the-character-of-god-they-do-not-comprehend/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [When we say "Thy will be done," do we say it with a sigh? If so, we have never realized that the character of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-we-say-thy-will-be-done-do-we-say-it-with-a-sigh-if-so-we-have/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you cannot understand at the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/faith-is-deliberate-confidence-in-the-character-of-god-whose-ways-you-2/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“The character of God is an unchanging Northstar five which to find our way through a world of moral complexity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirby-anderson/the-character-of-god-is-an-unchanging-northstar-five-which-to-find/) Kirby Anderson > [God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/god-himself-was-once-as-we-are-now-and-is-an-exalted-man-and-sits/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Worship is not something we "work up," it is something that "comes down" to us, from the character of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/worship-is-not-something-we-work-up-it-is-something-that-comes-down/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/holiness-is-nothing-less-than-conformity-to-the-character-of-god/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Oh the folly of any mind that would explain God before obeying Him! That would map out the character of God instead of crying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/oh-the-folly-of-any-mind-that-would-explain-god-before-obeying-him/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The certainty of our salvation rests on the character of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-b-meyer/the-certainty-of-our-salvation-rests-on-the-character-of-god/) [F.B. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-b-meyer/) > [I am not a conventionally religious man, but in the wilderness I have come closest to finding myself and knowing the universe and accepting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-brown/i-am-not-a-conventionally-religious-man-but-in-the-wilderness-i-have/) [Bob Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-brown/) > [I had a lot of trouble accepting God as a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suhaib-webb/i-had-a-lot-of-trouble-accepting-god-as-a-human-being/) [Suhaib Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suhaib-webb/) ## More by Phillip E. Johnson > [“Darvinizam je priča o oslobađanju čovječanstva od iluzije da njegovom sudbinom upravlja neka sila viša od njega.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/darvinizam-je-pri-a-o-osloba-anju-ovje-anstva-od-iluzije-da-njegovom/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [In short, the proposition that God was in any way involved in our creation is effectively outlawed, and implicitly negated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/in-short-the-proposition-that-god-was-in-any-way-involved-in-our/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [First, Darwinian theory tells us how a certain amount of diversity in life forms can develop once we have various types of complex living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/first-darwinian-theory-tells-us-how-a-certain-amount-of-diversity-in/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [Evolutionary biologists are not content merely to explain how variation occurs within limits, however. They aspire to answer a much broader question-which is how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/evolutionary-biologists-are-not-content-merely-to-explain-how/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [Materialism sets us free from sin-by proving that there is no such thing as sin. There's just antisocial behavior, which we can control with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/materialism-sets-us-free-from-sin-by-proving-that-there-is-no-such/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [In short, it is not that evolutionary naturalists have been less brazen than the scientific creationists in holding science hostage, but rather that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/in-short-it-is-not-that-evolutionary-naturalists-have-been-less/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [“As students grow more and more accustomed to assuming materialism and naturalism in their academic work, the concept of creation by God gradually tends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/as-students-grow-more-and-more-accustomed-to-assuming-materialism-and/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [Although I insist that God has always had the power to intervene directly in nature to create new forms, I am willing to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/although-i-insist-that-god-has-always-had-the-power-to-intervene/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [“A second point that caught my attention was that the very persons who insist upon keeping religion and science separate are eager to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/a-second-point-that-caught-my-attention-was-that-the-very-persons-who/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [Modernism is typically defined as the condition that begins when people realize God is truly dead, and we are therefore on our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/modernism-is-typically-defined-as-the-condition-that-begins-when/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [“..."science" as defined in our culture has a philosophical bias that needs to be exposed. On the one hand, science is empirical. This means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/science-as-defined-in-our-culture-has-a-philosophical-bias-that-needs/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [Scientists have long known that Darwinism is false. They have adhered to the myth out of self-interest and a zealous desire to put down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/scientists-have-long-known-that-darwinism-is-false-they-have-adhered/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [“The whole thing seems absurdly easy - so easy that you ought to smell a rat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/the-whole-thing-seems-absurdly-easy-so-easy-that-you-ought-to-smell-a/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [The Intelligent Design movement starts with the recognition that "In the beginning was the Word," and "In the beginning God created." Establishing that point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/the-intelligent-design-movement-starts-with-the-recognition-that-in/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [Most importantly, I agree that the truth of these matters should be determined by interpretation of scientific evidence - experiments, fossil studies and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/most-importantly-i-agree-that-the-truth-of-these-matters-should-be/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) [Explore all 45 Phillip E. Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) ## More Accepting 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/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're not trying to prove the character of God through science. That's a bad idea. What I'm trying to do is clear away the misunderstandings, the debris that prevent people from accepting that God who wants to accept them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Phillip E. 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