--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is a God, I don't think He would…" description: "\"If there is a God, I don't think He would demand that anyone bow down or stand up to Him. I often have a suspicion that God is still trying to work thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/rebecca-west-1248_bows_if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would_244191.jpg" --- # If there is a God, I don't think He would demand that… ![“If there is a God, I don't think He would demand that anyone bow down or stand up to Him. I often have a suspicion that God is still trying to work things out and hasn't finished.” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/rebecca-west-1248_bows_if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would_244191.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/rebecca-west-1248_bows_if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would_244191.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/rebecca-west-1248_bows_if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would_244191.jpg) > “If there is a God, I don't think He would demand that anyone bow down or stand up to Him. I often have a suspicion that God is still trying to work things out and hasn't finished.” [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that a deity would not require worshipful obedience, implying a divine process still unfolding and incomplete. **In simple terms:** God would not demand worship; He is still evolving. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty about divine nature. Themes faith divinity humility Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal belief - spiritual reflection - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts theology process philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile faith with divine uncertainty? - What does this imply about human agency? A Different Perspective It may overlook traditions that emphasize obedience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [If there is a god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/if-there-is-a-god/) [Suspicion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspicion/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The root of all sin is the suspicion that God is not good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-root-of-all-sin-is-the-suspicion-that-god-is-not-good/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [It's not so much that I'm an atheist so much as the sneaking suspicion that I myself may be god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/it-s-not-so-much-that-i-m-an-atheist-so-much-as-the-sneaking/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [“Making our worst decisions in life, can destroy us, but God is trying to Rebuild us”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-louis/making-our-worst-decisions-in-life-can-destroy-us-but-god-is-trying/) Gary Louis > [“...our role as comforters is not to solve the problem of pain; even less is it to stick up for God. Trying to vindicate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-f-davis/our-role-as-comforters-is-not-to-solve-the-problem-of-pain-even-less/) [Ellen F. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-f-davis/) > [Trials come into our lives when God is trying to teach us, lead us or correct us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trials-come-into-our-lives-when-god-is-trying-to-teach-us-lead-us-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So get this clear in your minds: Abraham did not get close to God by trying to keep the law; his method was simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-swaney/so-get-this-clear-in-your-minds-abraham-did-not-get-close-to-god-by/) Richard A. Swaney > [God is trying to call us back to that for which He created us, to worship Him and to enjoy Him forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-is-trying-to-call-us-back-to-that-for-which-he-created-us-to/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Everyone needs to calm down! Okay, you got a weird cookie. So what? I don’t mean to swat your ego here, buddy, but this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/everyone-needs-to-calm-down-okay-you-got-a-weird-cookie-so-what-i-don/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [And if God were trying to reach out to us, and teach us something about the deepest nature of matter, he might use some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-milch/and-if-god-were-trying-to-reach-out-to-us-and-teach-us-something/) [David Milch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-milch/) > [“Oh my god, was he trying to Six Sigma me? “Dad,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-de-guzman/oh-my-god-was-he-trying-to-six-sigma-me-dad/) Carla de Guzman > [We have to keep asking ourselves: 'What does it all mean? What is God trying to tell us? How are we called to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-to-keep-asking-ourselves-what-does-it-all-mean-what-is-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once sin creeps its way into your life, it’s hard to turn around. You can’t pull yourself back up on your own, and certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sweet/once-sin-creeps-its-way-into-your-life-it-s-hard-to-turn-around-you/) [Michael Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sweet/) > [So Jesus came and modelled a lifestyle of power and purity because the power of the Spirit of God was on him. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/so-jesus-came-and-modelled-a-lifestyle-of-power-and-purity-because/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [When you can't sleep at night have you ever thought that maybe it's God who is trying to speak to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-can-t-sleep-at-night-have-you-ever-thought-that-maybe-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God doesnt try to change the situation because hes trying to change you not only you but god is trying to change your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-johnson/god-doesnt-try-to-change-the-situation-because-hes-trying-to-change/) [Natalya Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-johnson/) ## More by Rebecca West > [I see the main problem of my life, and indeed anybody's life, as the balancing of competitive freedoms ... a sense of mutual obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/i-see-the-main-problem-of-my-life-and-indeed-anybody-s-life-as-the/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [“There is, of course, no reason for the existence of the male sex except that sometimes one needs help with moving the piano.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/there-is-of-course-no-reason-for-the-existence-of-the-male-sex-except/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [“At the top of a hill our automobile stuck in a snowdrift. Peasants ran out of a cottage near by, shouting with laughter because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/at-the-top-of-a-hill-our-automobile-stuck-in-a-snowdrift-peasants-ran/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [We all drew on the comfort which is given out by the major works of Mozart, which is as real and material as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/we-all-drew-on-the-comfort-which-is-given-out-by-the-major-works-of/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Christianity must be regarded not as a final revelation but as a phase of revelation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/christianity-must-be-regarded-not-as-a-final-revelation-but-as-a/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Art and propaganda have this much connection, that if a propaganda makes art impossible, it is clearly damned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/art-and-propaganda-have-this-much-connection-that-if-a-propaganda/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [The American struggle for the vote was much more difficult than the English for the simple reason that it was much more easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/the-american-struggle-for-the-vote-was-much-more-difficult-than-the/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [ Like all bad drivers, he \[Henry Andrews\] thought he was the best driver in the world... ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/like-all-bad-drivers-he-henry-andrews-thought-he-was-the-best-driver/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [The childhood of the individual and the race is full of fears, and panic-stricken attempts to avert what is feared by placating the gods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/the-childhood-of-the-individual-and-the-race-is-full-of-fears-and/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Humanity is never more sphinxlike than when it is expressing itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/humanity-is-never-more-sphinxlike-than-when-it-is-expressing-itself/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [ \[On Jane Austen:\] To believe her limited in range because she was harmonious in method is as sensible as to imagine that when the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/on-jane-austen-to-believe-her-limited-in-range-because-she-was/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [a good oyster cannot please the palate as acutely as a bad one can revolt it, and a good oyster cannot make him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/a-good-oyster-cannot-please-the-palate-as-acutely-as-a-bad-one-can/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Any authentic work of art must start an argument between the artist and his audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/any-authentic-work-of-art-must-start-an-argument-between-the-artist/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [... there has never been a period in history when there have been necessary killings which has not been instantly followed by a period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/there-has-never-been-a-period-in-history-when-there-have-been/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [“Behind me the past was darker than I had known it, not only irrecoverable, but unexplored, unexplorable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/behind-me-the-past-was-darker-than-i-had-known-it-not-only/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) [Explore all 264 Rebecca West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) ## More Bows quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I with borrow'd silver shine, What you see is none of mine. First I show you but a quarter, Like the bow that guards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-with-borrow-d-silver-shine-what-you-see-is-none-of-mine-first-i/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [And yet, I do believe there is ultimately meaning in the chaos, and also in the doldrums. What I resist is not the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-yet-i-do-believe-there-is-ultimately-meaning-in-the-chaos-and/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [There are ceremonious bows that repel one like a cudgel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/there-are-ceremonious-bows-that-repel-one-like-a-cudgel/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Pure essence, and pure matter, and the two joined into one were shot forth without flaw, like three bright arrows from a three-string bow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/pure-essence-and-pure-matter-and-the-two-joined-into-one-were-shot/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Steadying herself with both hands on the table, she managed an awkward bow… 'Your Highness,' she stammered, head lowered... The prince flinched and cast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/steadying-herself-with-both-hands-on-the-table-she-managed-an-awkward/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God, first fill your own house with the fragrance of love. Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/go-not-to-the-temple-to-put-flowers-upon-the-feet-of-god-first-fill/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [I did archery when I was in high school. In our gym class we had two weeks of archery, and I remember taking the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/i-did-archery-when-i-was-in-high-school-in-our-gym-class-we-had-two/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [Ultimately, we are not seeking others to bow to, but to reinforce our individual natures, to help us suffer our own choices, to guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/ultimately-we-are-not-seeking-others-to-bow-to-but-to-reinforce-our/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Remove but the temptations of leisure, and the bow of Cupid will lose its effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/remove-but-the-temptations-of-leisure-and-the-bow-of-cupid-will-lose/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Pain and pleasure, good and evil, come to us from unexpected sources. It is not there where we have gathered up our brightest hopes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/pain-and-pleasure-good-and-evil-come-to-us-from-unexpected-sources-it/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [A lot of celebrities just want money, fame, power, fancy cars, houses all over the world and have people BOW DOWN to them. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-manson/a-lot-of-celebrities-just-want-money-fame-power-fancy-cars-houses-all/) [Shirley Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-manson/) > [Much bending breaks the bow; much unbending the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/much-bending-breaks-the-bow-much-unbending-the-mind/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Things don't always tie up in a nice bow. Even when you make strides with people and relationships, it's complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-tveit/things-don-t-always-tie-up-in-a-nice-bow-even-when-you-make-strides/) [Aaron Tveit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-tveit/) > [I pray everywhere--in the shower, on a plane, in traffic, you name it. When I feel like I have had enough, I will literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-harmon/i-pray-everywhere-in-the-shower-on-a-plane-in-traffic-you-name-it/) [Angie Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-harmon/) Browse all 739 Bows quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there is a God, I don't think He would demand that anyone bow down or stand up to Him. I often have a suspicion that God is still trying to work things out and hasn't finished.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rebecca West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would-demand-that-anyone-bow-down/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bows" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would-demand-that-anyone-bow-down/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/rebecca-west-1248_bows_if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would_244191.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/rebecca-west-1248_bows_if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would_244191.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/rebecca-west-1248_bows_if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would_244191.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there is a God, I don't think He would demand that anyone bow down or stand up to Him. I often have a…” — Rebecca West", "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": "Rebecca West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If there is a God, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would-demand-that-anyone-bow-down/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/if-there-is-a-god-i-don-t-think-he-would-demand-that-anyone-bow-down/#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 } } ] } ```