--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Talking with an atheist is like trying to…" description: "\"Talking with an atheist is like trying to reason with someone who denies the existence of the sun.\" — Ray Comfort" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/ray-comfort-8768_atheism_talking-with-an-atheist-is-like-trying-t_1860405.jpg" --- # Talking with an atheist is like trying to reason with… ![“Talking with an atheist is like trying to reason with someone who denies the existence of the sun.” quote by Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/ray-comfort-8768_atheism_talking-with-an-atheist-is-like-trying-t_1860405.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/ray-comfort-8768_atheism_talking-with-an-atheist-is-like-trying-t_1860405.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/ray-comfort-8768_atheism_talking-with-an-atheist-is-like-trying-t_1860405.jpg) > “Talking with an atheist is like trying to reason with someone who denies the existence of the sun.” [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Debating an atheist is likened to arguing with someone who denies an obvious truth, highlighting perceived futility. **In simple terms:** Arguing with an atheist feels like denying the sun. Key Takeaway Recognize when dialogue is unproductive. Themes faith reasoning dialogue Mood frustrated reflective Type debate persuasive When to use this quote - political debates - interfaith discussions - public speaking Key Concepts atheism epistemic humility persuasion Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever find common ground with opposing views? - How can you make discussions more productive? A Different Perspective Counterpoint: Some atheists engage constructively, so blanket dismissal may miss opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“An egoist is a man who denies the existence of ego in him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahad-basheer/an-egoist-is-a-man-who-denies-the-existence-of-ego-in-him/) [Fahad Basheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahad-basheer/) > [He who denies the existence of God, has some reason for wishing that God did not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-denies-the-existence-of-god-has-some-reason-for-wishing-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A temple for an atheist and a hope of a single person to find a date are same. Meaningless but strong faith. It's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/a-temple-for-an-atheist-and-a-hope-of-a-single-person-to-find-a-date/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [“Atheists are spiritual slackers, right? We are the stoners of the cosmos. We think we’re all over-intelligent, free-thinking, free-spirited, uber-cool, hippy-dippy, science-minded, leaning-to-the-left, hedonistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-k-decker/atheists-are-spiritual-slackers-right-we-are-the-stoners-of-the/) T.K. Decker > [I'm often asked - and occasionally in an accusatory way - 'Are you atheist?' And it's like, 'You know, the only 'ist' I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-m-often-asked-and-occasionally-in-an-accusatory-way-are-you-atheist/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“In the first place, I'm sort of an atheist. I like Jesus and all, but I don't care too much for most of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/in-the-first-place-i-m-sort-of-an-atheist-i-like-jesus-and-all-but-i/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“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/) > [' Being an Atheist must be like living in a closed cell,with no window!' Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/being-an-atheist-must-be-like-living-in-a-closed-cell-with-no-window/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [As I've said before, you can be an atheist and anything you like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/as-i-ve-said-before-you-can-be-an-atheist-and-anything-you-like/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I've given up trying to reason with people who despise me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nish-kumar/i-ve-given-up-trying-to-reason-with-people-who-despise-me/) [Nish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nish-kumar/) > [Everything happens for a reason, the tough part is trying to find out what that reason is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everything-happens-for-a-reason-the-tough-part-is-trying-to-find-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Trying to reason with an addict was like trying to blow out a lightbulb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/trying-to-reason-with-an-addict-was-like-trying-to-blow-out-a/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“I could now see her the way she actually is and not in the distorted way my mind presented her to me when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weyland/i-could-now-see-her-the-way-she-actually-is-and-not-in-the-distorted/) Jack Weyland > [Everything happen for reason, but if you keep trying to find what the reason is. then you will miss something important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-yap/everything-happen-for-reason-but-if-you-keep-trying-to-find-what-the/) [William Yap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-yap/) > [If you're trying give me a reason to hate you, then let me tell you there is nothing which can make me to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-wadhawan/if-you-re-trying-give-me-a-reason-to-hate-you-then-let-me-tell-you/) [Anil Wadhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-wadhawan/) ## More by Ray Comfort > [So, I'm not the only one who believes that there is such a thing as "the law of gravity," and if it's a law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/so-i-m-not-the-only-one-who-believes-that-there-is-such-a-thing-as/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [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/) > [One of Dawkins' major gripes is against religion. I am in total agreement on that one. I abhor religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/one-of-dawkins-major-gripes-is-against-religion-i-am-in-total/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“Darwin theorized that mankind (both male and female) evolved alongside each other over millions of years, both reproducing after their own kind before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/darwin-theorized-that-mankind-both-male-and-female-evolved-alongside/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [Darwin theorized that mankind (both male and female) evolved alongside each other over millions of years, both reproducing after their own kind before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/darwin-theorized-that-mankind-both-male-and-female-evolved-alongside-2/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [The problem when arguing with those who believe in atheistic evolution is that they move goal posts by redefining atheism or evolution or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/the-problem-when-arguing-with-those-who-believe-in-atheistic/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [Atheists don't hate fairies, leprechauns, or unicorns because they don't exist. It is impossible to hate something that doesn't exist. Atheists, like the painting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/atheists-don-t-hate-fairies-leprechauns-or-unicorns-because-they-don/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [Kirk Cameron pulls no punches in his exploration of mankind's greatest dilemma. Unstoppable is a captivating, raw, and candid journey that gracefully delivers hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/kirk-cameron-pulls-no-punches-in-his-exploration-of-mankind-s/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [George Harrison was known as the quiet Beatle. Quiet people are often quiet because they are deep thinkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/george-harrison-was-known-as-the-quiet-beatle-quiet-people-are-often/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [Atheism is spreading like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/atheism-is-spreading-like-wildfire/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [I think the key to passion, to zeal, is gratitude. Or to put it another way, the fuel to motivate is gratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-think-the-key-to-passion-to-zeal-is-gratitude-or-to-put-it-another/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [John Lennon was a musical genius. All I have to do is think of some of his songs and even the titles make me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/john-lennon-was-a-musical-genius-all-i-have-to-do-is-think-of-some-of/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [I think that the theory of evolution is the most unscientific, faith-based, fundamentally brainless idea that ever had the misfortune to come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-think-that-the-theory-of-evolution-is-the-most-unscientific-faith/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [Atheists who keep asking for evidence of God's existence are like a fish in the ocean wanting evidence of water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/atheists-who-keep-asking-for-evidence-of-god-s-existence-are-like-a/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [A blind, anemic, weak-kneed flea on crutches would have a greater chance of defeating a herd of a thousand wild stampeding elephants, than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/a-blind-anemic-weak-kneed-flea-on-crutches-would-have-a-greater/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) [Explore all 78 Ray Comfort quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) ## More Atheism 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/) > [“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/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [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/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Talking with an atheist is like trying to reason with someone who denies the existence of the sun.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ray Comfort" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/talking-with-an-atheist-is-like-trying-to-reason-with-someone-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/talking-with-an-atheist-is-like-trying-to-reason-with-someone-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/ray-comfort-8768_atheism_talking-with-an-atheist-is-like-trying-t_1860405.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/ray-comfort-8768_atheism_talking-with-an-atheist-is-like-trying-t_1860405.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/ray-comfort-8768_atheism_talking-with-an-atheist-is-like-trying-t_1860405.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Talking with an atheist is like trying to reason with someone who denies the existence of the sun.” — Ray Comfort", "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": "Ray Comfort", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Talking with an atheist is like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/talking-with-an-atheist-is-like-trying-to-reason-with-someone-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/talking-with-an-atheist-is-like-trying-to-reason-with-someone-who/#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 } } ] } ```