--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [The atheist believes] a world marked by…" description: "\"[The atheist believes] a world marked by so much injustice, innocent suffering, and cynicism of power cannot be the work of a good God.\" — Pope Benedic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/pope-benedict-xvi-414_cynicism_the-atheist-believes-a-world-marked-by-s_1667176.jpg" --- # \[The atheist believes\] a world marked by so much… ![“[The atheist believes] a world marked by so much injustice, innocent suffering, and cynicism of power cannot be the work of a good God.” quote by Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/pope-benedict-xvi-414_cynicism_the-atheist-believes-a-world-marked-by-s_1667176.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/pope-benedict-xvi-414_cynicism_the-atheist-believes-a-world-marked-by-s_1667176.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/pope-benedict-xvi-414_cynicism_the-atheist-believes-a-world-marked-by-s_1667176.jpg) > “\[The atheist believes\] a world marked by so much injustice, innocent suffering, and cynicism of power cannot be the work of a good God.” [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. A world of injustice and suffering challenges belief in a benevolent deity. **In simple terms:** Suffering questions the existence of a good God. Key Takeaway Seek deeper understanding of divine purpose. Themes faith justice theodicy Mood contemplative serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - Personal crisis - theological study - social activism Key Concepts Suffering evil divine mystery Questions to Reflect On - What role does human freedom play in suffering? - How can faith respond to injustice? A Different Perspective Human free will complicates simple explanations of evil. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [A world marked by so much injustice, innocent suffering, and cynicism of power cannot be the work of a good God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/a-world-marked-by-so-much-injustice-innocent-suffering-and-cynicism/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“How could a good God create a world full of innocent suffering?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-neiman/how-could-a-good-god-create-a-world-full-of-innocent-suffering/) [Susan Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-neiman/) > [When the heart is touched by direct experience, the mind may be challenged to change. Personal involvement with innocent suffering, with the injustice others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hans-kolvenbach/when-the-heart-is-touched-by-direct-experience-the-mind-may-be/) Peter Hans Kolvenbach > [It is possible to pay another man's debts on his behalf, but it is not possible to make a guilty man innocent by suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lofmark/it-is-possible-to-pay-another-man-s-debts-on-his-behalf-but-it-is-not/) Carl Lofmark > [I'm your basic atheist that believes in maybe - I'm a spiritual atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-m-your-basic-atheist-that-believes-in-maybe-i-m-a-spiritual-atheist/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [“The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-whole-war-between-the-atheist-and-the-theist-comes-down-to-this/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Although I'm an atheist who believes only in great nature, I recognize the spiritual richness and grandeur of the Roman Catholicism in which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/although-i-m-an-atheist-who-believes-only-in-great-nature-i-recognize/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [It's important to understand that an atheist is someone who believes the scientific impossibility that nothing created everything. Some fundamental atheists will deny this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/it-s-important-to-understand-that-an-atheist-is-someone-who-believes/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [An Atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An atheist believes that deed must be done instead of prayer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/an-atheist-believes-that-a-hospital-should-be-built-instead-of-a/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [But no one can lose sight of what he desires. Even if there are moments when he believes the world and the others are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/but-no-one-can-lose-sight-of-what-he-desires-even-if-there-are/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I am one who believes that the world goes from the slime to the sublime. And you can take Darwin and all your philosophers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/i-am-one-who-believes-that-the-world-goes-from-the-slime-to-the/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [“And it ends up saying that everyone believes the world’s greatest lie.” “What’s the world’s greatest lie?” the boy asked, completely surprised. “It’s this:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/and-it-ends-up-saying-that-everyone-believes-the-world-s-greatest-lie/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The secret of a person's nature lies in their religion and what they really believes about the world and their place in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/the-secret-of-a-person-s-nature-lies-in-their-religion-and-what-they/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [The terrible, cold, cruel part is Wall Street. Rivers of gold flow there from all over the earth, and death comes with it. There,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-garc-a-lorca/the-terrible-cold-cruel-part-is-wall-street-rivers-of-gold-flow-there/) [Federico Garcia Lorca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-garc-a-lorca/) > [“Everyone believes the world's greatest lie..." says the mysterious old man. "What is the world's greatest lie?" the little boy asks. The old man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/everyone-believes-the-world-s-greatest-lie-says-the-mysterious-old/) [paulo coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## 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 Atheist 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/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [“The atheist joined his hands. It wasn't against the Gods. He smiled, with his hands folded, saw his daughter's in-laws approaching near.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/the-atheist-joined-his-hands-it-wasn-t-against-the-gods-he-smiled/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [An Atheist wandering down a road where he meets up a four road junction , he asks a passer by hey !, where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/an-atheist-wandering-down-a-road-where-he-meets-up-a-four-road/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am an atheist. I don't think there's anything divine. Beautiful, impressive, awe-inspiring - sure, but not divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-am-an-atheist-i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-divine-beautiful/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) [Browse all 2,434 Atheist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[The atheist believes] a world marked by so much injustice, innocent suffering, and cynicism of power cannot be the work of a good God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pope Benedict XVI" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-atheist-believes-a-world-marked-by-so-much-injustice-innocent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-atheist-believes-a-world-marked-by-so-much-injustice-innocent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/pope-benedict-xvi-414_cynicism_the-atheist-believes-a-world-marked-by-s_1667176.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/pope-benedict-xvi-414_cynicism_the-atheist-believes-a-world-marked-by-s_1667176.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/pope-benedict-xvi-414_cynicism_the-atheist-believes-a-world-marked-by-s_1667176.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[The atheist believes] a world marked by so much injustice, innocent suffering, and cynicism of power cannot…” — 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": "[The atheist believes] a world marked...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-atheist-believes-a-world-marked-by-so-much-injustice-innocent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-atheist-believes-a-world-marked-by-so-much-injustice-innocent/#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 } } ] } ```