--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is rational to believe, as it is our…" description: "\"It is rational to believe, as it is our very existence that is at stake.\" — Pope Benedict XVI" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/pope-benedict-xvi-414_believe_it-is-rational-to-believe-as-it-is-our-v_1047905.jpg" --- # It is rational to believe, as it is our very existence… ![“It is rational to believe, as it is our very existence that is at stake.” quote by Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/pope-benedict-xvi-414_believe_it-is-rational-to-believe-as-it-is-our-v_1047905.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/pope-benedict-xvi-414_believe_it-is-rational-to-believe-as-it-is-our-v_1047905.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/pope-benedict-xvi-414_believe_it-is-rational-to-believe-as-it-is-our-v_1047905.jpg) > “It is rational to believe, as it is our very existence that is at stake.” [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Believing rationally is essential because existence itself is at stake. **In simple terms:** Rational belief protects our very being. Key Takeaway Guard your existence with reason. Themes faith reason existence ethics Mood thoughtful serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - ethical dilemmas - scientific debates - existential crises Key Concepts philosophy theology ontology Questions to Reflect On - What does existence mean to you? - How can reason and faith coexist? A Different Perspective Rationality may conflict with faith for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-existence-408554/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existence Stake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-stake-2488621/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Rational Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-believe-2488620/) [Stakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stakes/) ## Related quotes > [Each and every day, Israel's very existence is at stake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/each-and-every-day-israel-s-very-existence-is-at-stake/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [“Is it rational to believe in a bad God? Anyway, in a God so bad as all that? The Cosmic Sadist, the spiteful imbecile?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/is-it-rational-to-believe-in-a-bad-god-anyway-in-a-god-so-bad-as-all/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“But there are such men who established the truth of an eternal matter by such proof as follows. If there be no existence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imam-al-ghazali/but-there-are-such-men-who-established-the-truth-of-an-eternal-matter/) [Imam Al-Ghazali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imam-al-ghazali/) > [“An atheist is a man who does not believe the existence of a God; now, no one can be certain of the existence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/an-atheist-is-a-man-who-does-not-believe-the-existence-of-a-god-now/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [“God doesn't change his word, if He has promised you something;you better believe that is done before it's existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/god-doesn-t-change-his-word-if-he-has-promised-you-something-you/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [“wonder sometimes why those who theorize about the human mind can so easily believe in the existence of things they cannot see or measure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/wonder-sometimes-why-those-who-theorize-about-the-human-mind-can-so/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [I strongly believe in the existence of God, based on intuition, observations, logic, and also scientific knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hard-townes/i-strongly-believe-in-the-existence-of-god-based-on-intuition/) [Charles Hard Townes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hard-townes/) > [“Believe not the existence of an emotion nobler than the compassion!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/believe-not-the-existence-of-an-emotion-nobler-than-the-compassion/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I believe in the existence of a Supreme Intelligence pervading the Universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-believe-in-the-existence-of-a-supreme-intelligence-pervading-the/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [We all have within us a centered place of wisdom, harmony, and balance. Whether or not we believe in the existence of the soul,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/we-all-have-within-us-a-centered-place-of-wisdom-harmony-and-balance/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [“If you have found the secret of immortality, don't take a megaphone and announce it to the whole world! Give this secret only to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-have-found-the-secret-of-immortality-don-t-take-a-megaphone/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I can't even make a leap of faith to believe in my own existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-can-t-even-make-a-leap-of-faith-to-believe-in-my-own-existence/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Atheist, in the strict and proper sense of the word, is one who does not believe in the existence of a god, or who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson/atheist-in-the-strict-and-proper-sense-of-the-word-is-one-who-does/) [Richard Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson/) > [It is a universal condition of the enjoyable that the mind must believe in the existence of a law, and yet have a mystery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/it-is-a-universal-condition-of-the-enjoyable-that-the-mind-must/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [“I don’t believe in anything but the existence of my sensations; I have no other certainty, not even of the outer universe conveyed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lvaro-de-campos/i-don-t-believe-in-anything-but-the-existence-of-my-sensations-i-have/) [Álvaro de Campos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lvaro-de-campos/) ## More by Pope Benedict XVI > [The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-fact-that-the-lord-can-work-and-act-even-with-insufficient-means/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Continue to witness to the Gospel every day and commit yourselves generously in the next missionary initiatives in the Diocese of Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/continue-to-witness-to-the-gospel-every-day-and-commit-yourselves/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus’ example of fidelity to prayer challenges us to examine the time and effort we devote to our own prayer. While prayer is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-example-of-fidelity-to-prayer-challenges-us-to-examine-the-time/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If we look to the saints, this great luminous wake with which God has passed through history, we truly see that here is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-we-look-to-the-saints-this-great-luminous-wake-with-which-god-has/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“Joseph Ratzinger never developed his own theological system. As a theologian he took on what was there, discerned its essentials, situated it in relation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joseph-ratzinger-never-developed-his-own-theological-system-as-a/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality “of closed eyes”, but one of “alertness”, one which entails an absolute duty to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-christ-does-not-teach-us-a-spirituality-of-closed-eyes-but-one/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Joy is the true gift of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joy-is-the-true-gift-of-christmas/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. We must eat in order to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/material-possessions-in-themselves-are-good-we-would-not-survive-for/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [One of the promising indications of a renewal in the Church's missionary consciousness in recent decades, has been the growing desire of many lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/one-of-the-promising-indications-of-a-renewal-in-the-church-s/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [God loves us despite our shortcomings and sins, and his love gives meaning to our lives and to the life of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/god-loves-us-despite-our-shortcomings-and-sins-and-his-love-gives/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [It's a great responsibility before God, the judge who guides us, who draws us to truth and good, and in this sense the church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-s-a-great-responsibility-before-god-the-judge-who-guides-us-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Discovering the beauty and joy of faith is a path that every new generation must take on its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/discovering-the-beauty-and-joy-of-faith-is-a-path-that-every-new/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and "efficient", but is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/apostolic-and-missionary-fruitfulness-is-not-principally-due-to/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) [Explore all 575 Pope Benedict XVI quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is rational to believe, as it is our very existence that is at stake.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pope Benedict XVI" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-rational-to-believe-as-it-is-our-very-existence-that-is-at-stake/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-rational-to-believe-as-it-is-our-very-existence-that-is-at-stake/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/pope-benedict-xvi-414_believe_it-is-rational-to-believe-as-it-is-our-v_1047905.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/pope-benedict-xvi-414_believe_it-is-rational-to-believe-as-it-is-our-v_1047905.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/pope-benedict-xvi-414_believe_it-is-rational-to-believe-as-it-is-our-v_1047905.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is rational to believe, as it is our very existence that is at stake.” — Pope Benedict XVI", "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": "Pope Benedict XVI", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is rational to believe, as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-rational-to-believe-as-it-is-our-very-existence-that-is-at-stake/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-rational-to-believe-as-it-is-our-very-existence-that-is-at-stake/#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 } } ] } ```