--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has always puzzled me that so many…" description: "\"It has always puzzled me that so many people have taken it for granted that God favors those who believe in him. Isn't it possible that the actual God ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/raymond-smullyan-35913_belief_it-has-always-puzzled-me-that-so-many-pe_2531387.jpg" --- # It has always puzzled me that so many people have taken it… ![“It has always puzzled me that so many people have taken it for granted that God favors those who believe in him. Isn't it possible that the actual God is a scientific God who has little patience with beliefs founded on faith rather than evidence?” quote by Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/raymond-smullyan-35913_belief_it-has-always-puzzled-me-that-so-many-pe_2531387.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/raymond-smullyan-35913_belief_it-has-always-puzzled-me-that-so-many-pe_2531387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/raymond-smullyan-35913_belief_it-has-always-puzzled-me-that-so-many-pe_2531387.jpg) > “It has always puzzled me that so many people have taken it for granted that God favors those who believe in him. Isn't it possible that the actual God is a scientific God who has little patience with beliefs founded on faith rather than evidence?” [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faith may be seen as a shortcut, but a rational, evidence‑based view of divinity could be more reliable. **In simple terms:** Questioning faith leads to a scientific view of God. Key Takeaway Consider evidence over blind belief. Themes faith science belief Mood curious skeptical Type philosophical inquisitive When to use this quote - academic debate - personal spirituality - ethical decisions Key Concepts skepticism theology epistemology Questions to Reflect On - What role does faith play in your life? - Can science and faith coexist? A Different Perspective Faith can provide comfort beyond evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The nearest we approach God ...is as creative beings. The poet, by echoing the primary imagination, recreates. Through his work he forces those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/the-nearest-we-approach-god-is-as-creative-beings-the-poet-by-echoing/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [The actual God of many Americans... is simply the current of American life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-horton-cooley/the-actual-god-of-many-americans-is-simply-the-current-of-american/) [Charles Horton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-horton-cooley/) > [“This is a Science! It is God’s Scientific experiment. All these are neither deeds (karma) nor is there any doer; there is no authority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/this-is-a-science-it-is-god-s-scientific-experiment-all-these-are/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“One of the tasks of science is to redefine the word and concept of God so that we can come up with an approximate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/one-of-the-tasks-of-science-is-to-redefine-the-word-and-concept-of/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [The technological overflow from scientific research has brought scientific research this bad name about carrying an irresponsibility and an alienation from God - because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-coyne/the-technological-overflow-from-scientific-research-has-brought/) [George Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-coyne/) > [Neither of us can come to either a knowledge of God, or a denial of God by our scientific research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-coyne/neither-of-us-can-come-to-either-a-knowledge-of-god-or-a-denial-of/) [George Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-coyne/) > [As long as every question is answered by the word "God," scientific inquiry is simply impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/as-long-as-every-question-is-answered-by-the-word-god-scientific/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“God is not a scientific hypothesis that might rival evolution. To think he is reduces the Creator to a creature, a highly creative force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cardinal-pell/god-is-not-a-scientific-hypothesis-that-might-rival-evolution-to/) [George Cardinal Pell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cardinal-pell/) > [My answer to someone who is in contrast with me - by not seeing God in the scientific data - is that you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-coyne/my-answer-to-someone-who-is-in-contrast-with-me-by-not-seeing-god-in/) [George Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-coyne/) > [I cannot believe in God when there is no scientific evidence for the existence of a supreme being and creator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-cannot-believe-in-god-when-there-is-no-scientific-evidence-for-the/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [“This belief, that science eradicates (the need for) God, is a myth many people believe today. The truth is that science, the study of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-morrison/this-belief-that-science-eradicates-the-need-for-god-is-a-myth-many/) [Jon Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-morrison/) > [Recently, someone asked me if I believed in astrology. He seemed somewhat puzzled when I explained that the reason I don't is that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/recently-someone-asked-me-if-i-believed-in-astrology-he-seemed/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) > [Education, like faith, is the evidence of things not seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-mason/education-like-faith-is-the-evidence-of-things-not-seen/) [Charlotte Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-mason/) > [Faith is the evidence of things not seen but yet still having providence of a positive mind, that you can conquer all things through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/telisa-mclaughlin/faith-is-the-evidence-of-things-not-seen-but-yet-still-having/) [Telisa McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/telisa-mclaughlin/) > [“Richard Dawkins regards faith as an evil to be eliminated; he takes all religious faith to be blind faith. (Dawkins says) ‘Scientific belief is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennox/richard-dawkins-regards-faith-as-an-evil-to-be-eliminated-he-takes/) [John Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennox/) ## More by Raymond Smullyan > [Why should I be worried about death?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/why-should-i-be-worried-about-death/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) > [Humor could not flourish in a wholly serious and rational atmosphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/humor-could-not-flourish-in-a-wholly-serious-and-rational-atmosphere/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) > [Why should I be worried about dying? It's not going to happen in my lifetime!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/why-should-i-be-worried-about-dying-it-s-not-going-to-happen-in-my/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) > [Because I have been a magician for many years, people have often asked me whether I ever have sawn a woman in half. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/because-i-have-been-a-magician-for-many-years-people-have-often-asked/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) > [There is nothing like a naturalistic orientation to dispel all these morbid thoughts of "sin" and "free will" and "moral responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/there-is-nothing-like-a-naturalistic-orientation-to-dispel-all-these/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) > [Recently, someone asked me if I believed in astrology. He seemed somewhat puzzled when I explained that the reason I don't is that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/recently-someone-asked-me-if-i-believed-in-astrology-he-seemed/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) > [All my life I have been intensely repelled by the idea of 'making an effort'. I hate this idea today as much as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/all-my-life-i-have-been-intensely-repelled-by-the-idea-of-making-an/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) > [I have free will, but not of my own choice. I have never freely chosen to have free will. I have to have free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/i-have-free-will-but-not-of-my-own-choice-i-have-never-freely-chosen/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) > [I believe that either Jupiter has life or it doesn't. But I neither believe that it does, nor do I believe that it doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/i-believe-that-either-jupiter-has-life-or-it-doesn-t-but-i-neither/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) > [Why do I act as I do? To tell you the truth, I have absolutely no idea why. It is simply my nature to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/why-do-i-act-as-i-do-to-tell-you-the-truth-i-have-absolutely-no-idea/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) > [Some people are always critical of vague statements. I tend rather to be critical of precise statements; they are the only ones which can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/some-people-are-always-critical-of-vague-statements-i-tend-rather-to/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) > [Metaphysical problems about "mind" versus "matter" arise only from epistemological confusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-smullyan/metaphysical-problems-about-mind-versus-matter-arise-only-from/) [Raymond Smullyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) [Explore all 13 Raymond Smullyan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-smullyan/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [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/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [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/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It has always puzzled me that so many people have taken it for granted that God favors those who believe in him. 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