--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's the difference between a godly…" description: "\"“That's the difference between a godly person and an atheist. Our stories are shorter and don't assume the protagonist is an idiot.”\" — PZ Myers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/pz-myers-24674_atheist_that-s-the-difference-between-a-godly-pe_745567.jpg" --- # That's the difference between a godly person and an… ![“That's the difference between a godly person and an atheist. Our stories are shorter and don't assume the protagonist is an idiot.” quote by PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/pz-myers-24674_atheist_that-s-the-difference-between-a-godly-pe_745567.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/pz-myers-24674_atheist_that-s-the-difference-between-a-godly-pe_745567.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/pz-myers-24674_atheist_that-s-the-difference-between-a-godly-pe_745567.jpg) > ““That's the difference between a godly person and an atheist. Our stories are shorter and don't assume the protagonist is an idiot.”” [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker contrasts religious narratives, which often feature incompetent protagonists, with a godly perspective that assumes rational agency. **In simple terms:** Religious stories often depict foolish heroes; godly view expects rationality. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about protagonist competence in narratives. Themes religion skepticism storytelling Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical cultural When to use this quote - literary analysis - debate - education - media critique Key Concepts theology rationalism character agency Questions to Reflect On - Do you think narratives shape moral expectations? - How does protagonist competence affect belief systems? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex theological concepts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Atheist Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist-stories-5811514/) [Difference Godly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-godly-3789179/) [Godly Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godly-person-2011024/) [Person Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-atheist-3097402/) [Protagonist Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protagonist-idiot-5811515/) ## Related quotes > [“Here’s the vast difference between a godly person and a worldly person. A worldly person just tries to “make it through” dark times. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-kosaraju/here-s-the-vast-difference-between-a-godly-person-and-a-worldly/) [Raj Kosaraju](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-kosaraju/) > [I’m not a religious person; I would call myself an atheist. I don’t have a good story behind it, I’m just reasonable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-m-not-a-religious-person-i-would-call-myself-an-atheist-i-don-t/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [“the difference between an atheist and a highly religious person is that the former is an atheist about n Gods while the latter is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawkins-richard/the-difference-between-an-atheist-and-a-highly-religious-person-is/) [Dawkins Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawkins-richard/) > [If you look within the United States, religion seems to make you a better person. Yet atheist societies do very well - better, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/if-you-look-within-the-united-states-religion-seems-to-make-you-a/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [“A godly person chooseth Christ and grace before the most illustrious things under the sun:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/a-godly-person-chooseth-christ-and-grace-before-the-most-illustrious/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [And I think that George Bush really is a very godly person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/and-i-think-that-george-bush-really-is-a-very-godly-person/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [Contentment is one of the most distinguishing traits of the godly person, because a godly person has his heart focused on God rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/contentment-is-one-of-the-most-distinguishing-traits-of-the-godly/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Peace should be a hallmark of the godly person, first because it is a Godlike trait: God is called the God of peace several…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/peace-should-be-a-hallmark-of-the-godly-person-first-because-it-is-a/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [A "godly" person is one who ceases to be self-centered in order to become God-centered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/a-godly-person-is-one-who-ceases-to-be-self-centered-in-order-to/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a godly person. Yet when I look at the yesterdays of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-have-wanted-to-be-a-godly-person-yet/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [Be the light to people, live your life in the right way. Be the Godly person you should be, don't let peer pressure change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-the-light-to-people-live-your-life-in-the-right-way-be-the-godly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Boss is an honorable man. After the Lord, the most godly person I've ever met." "You've met God?" "Certainly. I telephone Him every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-boss-is-an-honorable-man-after-the-lord-the-most-godly-person-i/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“A Godly Person Is Living Simple And Yet Happy An Ungodly Person Is Living Luxuriously And Yet So Sad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baba-tunde-ojo-olubiyo/a-godly-person-is-living-simple-and-yet-happy-an-ungodly-person-is/) [Baba Tunde Ojo-Olubiyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baba-tunde-ojo-olubiyo/) > [Religion is an act of sedition against reason. Whatever religion is most seductive and likely to draw in victims to surrender their skepticism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/religion-is-an-act-of-sedition-against-reason-whatever-religion-is/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [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/) ## More by PZ Myers > [Religion is an act of sedition against reason. Whatever religion is most seductive and likely to draw in victims to surrender their skepticism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/religion-is-an-act-of-sedition-against-reason-whatever-religion-is/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [Science provides tangible evidence of its accuracy and importance. Religion makes excuses for its absence of the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/science-provides-tangible-evidence-of-its-accuracy-and-importance/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [Human beings are still fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/human-beings-are-still-fish/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [Very clever people are often very clever at creating rationalisations for insane beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/very-clever-people-are-often-very-clever-at-creating-rationalisations/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [Many of the religious apologists out there are not stupid people, they are often brilliant. People working in the field of theology and philosophy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/many-of-the-religious-apologists-out-there-are-not-stupid-people-they/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [Silence is an argument in favor of the status quo. A refusal to address an inequity is a strategy for maintaining that inequity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/silence-is-an-argument-in-favor-of-the-status-quo-a-refusal-to/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [religion is to misogyny as disease is to misery - not the sole cause, but a significant contributor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/religion-is-to-misogyny-as-disease-is-to-misery-not-the-sole-cause/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [And of course death can't be conquered...but oh, the battle can be glorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/and-of-course-death-can-t-be-conquered-but-oh-the-battle-can-be/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [We shouldn't be gratuitously obnoxious, we should be purposefully obnoxious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/we-shouldn-t-be-gratuitously-obnoxious-we-should-be-purposefully/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [It's amazing how much detail Catholics will go into documenting why people shouldn't do the things that they all do anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/it-s-amazing-how-much-detail-catholics-will-go-into-documenting-why/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [We live our lives for our life's sake, rather than for illusions about rewards and satisfaction after we're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/we-live-our-lives-for-our-life-s-sake-rather-than-for-illusions-about/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [FAITH. No one word personifies the absolute worst and most wicked properties of religion better than that. Faith is mind-rot. It’s the poison that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/faith-no-one-word-personifies-the-absolute-worst-and-most-wicked/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [If you've got a religious belief that withers in the face of observations of the natural world, you ought to rethink your beliefs -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/if-you-ve-got-a-religious-belief-that-withers-in-the-face-of/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [The mediocrity principle simply states that you aren't special. The universe does not revolve around you; this planet isn't privileged in any unique way;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/the-mediocrity-principle-simply-states-that-you-aren-t-special-the/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) > [We godless lack that certainty, and we know the world is a complex place that requires compromise and is not ruled by a moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pz-myers/we-godless-lack-that-certainty-and-we-know-the-world-is-a-complex/) [PZ Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) [Explore all 24 PZ Myers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pz-myers/) ## 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": "“That's the difference between a godly person and an atheist. 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