--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Atheists are in a difficult position. A…" description: "\"“Atheists are in a difficult position. A lot of modern religion is progressive, ethical and socially responsible--not about \"supernaturalism\" or a tyra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5c/r-joseph-hoffmann-47993_human-values_atheists-are-in-a-difficult-position-a-l_300450.jpg" --- # Atheists are in a difficult position. A lot of modern… ![“Atheists are in a difficult position. A lot of modern religion is progressive, ethical and socially responsible--not about "supernaturalism" or a tyrannical ancient God. Atheists, on the one hand, risk giving the impression that they are campaigning against compassion and basic human values, or on…” quote by R. Joseph Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5c/r-joseph-hoffmann-47993_human-values_atheists-are-in-a-difficult-position-a-l_300450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5c/r-joseph-hoffmann-47993_human-values_atheists-are-in-a-difficult-position-a-l_300450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5c/r-joseph-hoffmann-47993_human-values_atheists-are-in-a-difficult-position-a-l_300450.jpg) > ““Atheists are in a difficult position. A lot of modern religion is progressive, ethical and socially responsible--not about "supernaturalism" or a tyrannical ancient God. Atheists, on the one hand, risk giving the impression that they are campaigning against compassion and basic human values, or on the other that they are in a fight to finish off a dinosaur that was killed by liberal theology while they were sleeping.”” [R. Joseph Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-joseph-hoffmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Atheists must navigate modern progressive religion that claims ethical values without supernatural beliefs, risking being seen as anti‑compassion or as fighting an outdated deity. **In simple terms:** Atheists face a tricky image problem with modern religion. Key Takeaway Clarify values and separate criticism of superstition from moral concerns. Themes religion ethics public perception secularism Mood thoughtful analytical Type explanatory reflective When to use this quote - public debates - interfaith dialogues - media commentary - political campaigns Key Concepts identity social dynamics moral framing Questions to Reflect On - How can atheists demonstrate compassion without appearing antagonistic? - What strategies help separate critique of superstition from moral values? A Different Perspective Critics may argue that atheists can still support compassion without needing to fight religion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Atheists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheists/) [Atheists Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheists-difficult-2871232/) [Atheists Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheists-hand-2871233/) [God Atheists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-atheists-1511442/) [Human values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-values/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Progressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-progressive-2871234/) ## Related quotes > [If there were no God, there would be no atheists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-there-were-no-god-there-would-be-no-atheists/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Eventually you’ll have to come to understand that there is no logical reason to believe in God.  If there was, atheists would believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-lugeons/eventually-you-ll-have-to-come-to-understand-that-there-is-no-logical/) [Noah Lugeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-lugeons/) > [“There is only one God and all atheists will learn that after their deaths”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/there-is-only-one-god-and-all-atheists-will-learn-that-after-their/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [The atheist is a religious person. He believes in atheism as though it were a new religion. According to Renan, "The day after that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-atheist-is-a-religious-person-he-believes-in-atheism-as-though-it/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“If we are to discuss the idea of God and be restricted to rational arguments, then it is probably useful to know what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/if-we-are-to-discuss-the-idea-of-god-and-be-restricted-to-rational/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The Romans called the Christians atheists. Why? Well, the Christians had a god of sorts, but it wasn't a real god. They didn't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-romans-called-the-christians-atheists-why-well-the-christians-had/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [When our party took over political power, the exploiting classes and reactionary forces went into action. The only rusty and antiquated tool that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nur-muhammad-taraki/when-our-party-took-over-political-power-the-exploiting-classes-and/) [Nur Muhammad Taraki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nur-muhammad-taraki/) > [The ivory tower of the artist may be the only stronghold left for human values, cultural treasures, man’s cult of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-ivory-tower-of-the-artist-may-be-the-only-stronghold-left-for/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [It is when you experience another's suffering as your own that your human values is manifested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/it-is-when-you-experience-another-s-suffering-as-your-own-that-your/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [The sincere effort to accept and promote the human values - Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Non-Violence and Love. These five values are a essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/the-sincere-effort-to-accept-and-promote-the-human-values-truth-right/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [The spirit in the body is like wine in a glass; when it spills, it seeps into air and earth and light….It’s a mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-michaels/the-spirit-in-the-body-is-like-wine-in-a-glass-when-it-spills-it/) [Anne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-michaels/) > [One simply cannot engage in barbarous action without becoming a barbarian, because one cannot defend human values by calculated and unprovoked violence without doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/one-simply-cannot-engage-in-barbarous-action-without-becoming-a/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [“Today, our view of genuine reality is increasingly clouded by professionals whose technical expertise often introduces a superficial and soulless model of the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-kleinman/today-our-view-of-genuine-reality-is-increasingly-clouded-by/) [Arthur Kleinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-kleinman/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) ## More by R. Joseph Hoffmann > [“Rightly understood the New Year festival is an act of faith. It is easier for the year to change than to change ourselves. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-joseph-hoffmann/rightly-understood-the-new-year-festival-is-an-act-of-faith-it-is/) [R. Joseph Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-joseph-hoffmann/) > [“For modern cosmology God cannot be a working hypothesis because God is not given to us in the observable nature of things. The poetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-joseph-hoffmann/for-modern-cosmology-god-cannot-be-a-working-hypothesis-because-god/) [R. Joseph Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-joseph-hoffmann/) > [“Christmas is frighteningly magical and mysterious. No wonder people feel lonely in the midst of their families, and unloved in the act of receiving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-joseph-hoffmann/christmas-is-frighteningly-magical-and-mysterious-no-wonder-people/) [R. Joseph Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-joseph-hoffmann/) > [“The reason I could never be an atheist is because when they get together they have literally nothing to talk about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-joseph-hoffmann/the-reason-i-could-never-be-an-atheist-is-because-when-they-get/) [R. Joseph Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-joseph-hoffmann/) > [“The standard cosmological theory--an expanding universe--does not really solve the problem of God. It simply makes it more problematical. Once the creator-creation model is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-joseph-hoffmann/the-standard-cosmological-theory-an-expanding-universe-does-not/) [r. joseph hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-joseph-hoffmann/) > [“The fact is, the great intellectuals of the western religious tradition from Augustine to Aquinas and Peter Abelard became philosophically dominant. The intellectual tradition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-joseph-hoffmann/the-fact-is-the-great-intellectuals-of-the-western-religious/) [R. Joseph Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-joseph-hoffmann/) > [“The division in human religion has always been between those who see the fall of man as a fall into freedom and those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-joseph-hoffmann/the-division-in-human-religion-has-always-been-between-those-who-see/) [R. Joseph Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-joseph-hoffmann/) [Explore all 8 R. Joseph Hoffmann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-joseph-hoffmann/) ## 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. 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