--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea that God could only forgive our…" description: "\"The idea that God could only forgive our sins by having his son tortured to death as a scapegoat is surely, from an objective point of view, a deeply u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/richard-dawkins-115_atheism_the-idea-that-god-could-only-forgive-our_3150178.jpg" --- # The idea that God could only forgive our sins by having… ![“The idea that God could only forgive our sins by having his son tortured to death as a scapegoat is surely, from an objective point of view, a deeply unpleasant idea. If God wanted to forgive us our sins, why didn't he just forgive them? Why did he have to have his son tortured?” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/richard-dawkins-115_atheism_the-idea-that-god-could-only-forgive-our_3150178.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/richard-dawkins-115_atheism_the-idea-that-god-could-only-forgive-our_3150178.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/richard-dawkins-115_atheism_the-idea-that-god-could-only-forgive-our_3150178.jpg) > “The idea that God could only forgive our sins by having his son tortured to death as a scapegoat is surely, from an objective point of view, a deeply unpleasant idea. If God wanted to forgive us our sins, why didn't he just forgive them? Why did he have to have his son tortured?” [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The crucifixion as a divine sacrifice is morally troubling; if God is loving, forgiveness should not require suffering. **In simple terms:** Questioning why forgiveness needs suffering. Key Takeaway Consider alternatives to punitive sacrifice. Themes theology morality divine justice suffering Mood skeptical inquisitive Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - faith discussions - moral philosophy - personal belief Key Concepts religious doctrine ethical critique Questions to Reflect On - How do we reconcile love with suffering? - Can morality exist without sacrifice? A Different Perspective Faith may rely on narratives that conflict with modern ethics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rage/) [Scapegoat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scapegoat/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) ## Related quotes > [If God wanted to forgive our sins, why not just forgive them, without having himself tortured and executed in payment-thereby, incidentally, condemning remote future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/if-god-wanted-to-forgive-our-sins-why-not-just-forgive-them-without/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/1-john-1-9/if-we-confess-our-sins-he-is-faithful-and-just-to-forgive-us-our-sins/) 1 John 1:9 > [“If God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, why shouldn't we forgive? If we are faithful and just, we shall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesba-stretton/if-god-is-faithful-and-just-to-forgive-us-our-sins-why-shouldn-t-we/) [Hesba Stretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesba-stretton/) > [Please lord forgive me for my sins but these bitches acting up so wait cause you just might have to forgive me again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/secret/please-lord-forgive-me-for-my-sins-but-these-bitches-acting-up-so/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/secret/) > [I pray to you God to forgive me from all my sins, to allow me to glorify you in every possible way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-atta/i-pray-to-you-god-to-forgive-me-from-all-my-sins-to-allow-me-to/) [Mohamed Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-atta/) > [Dear God, forgive me not my sins...but my sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-god-forgive-me-not-my-sins-but-my-sadness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [O God, if there is a God, forgive him his sins, if there is such a thing as sin,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/o-god-if-there-is-a-god-forgive-him-his-sins-if-there-is-such-a-thing/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [God may forgive sins, he said, but awkwardness has no forgiveness in heaven or earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/god-may-forgive-sins-he-said-but-awkwardness-has-no-forgiveness-in/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Dear GOD please forgive our sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-god-please-forgive-our-sins/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was raised in the valley, there were shadows and death. Got out alive but with scars I can't forget. This kid back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey/i-was-raised-in-the-valley-there-were-shadows-and-death-got-out-alive/) [Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey/) > [“This is exactly how those who rely on their own efforts to be justified still act today. They concentrate on the good that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/this-is-exactly-how-those-who-rely-on-their-own-efforts-to-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [God may forgive your sins, but your nervous system won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/god-may-forgive-your-sins-but-your-nervous-system-won-t/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [“I forgive you for not being the way I wanted you to be. I forgive you and I set you free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-l-hay/i-forgive-you-for-not-being-the-way-i-wanted-you-to-be-i-forgive-you-2/) [Louise L. Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-l-hay/) > [“I forgive you for not being the way I wanted you to be. I forgive you and I set you free.” This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-l-hay/i-forgive-you-for-not-being-the-way-i-wanted-you-to-be-i-forgive-you/) [Louise L. Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-l-hay/) > [“I wanted to forgive my mom and my dad so badly for the deep hurt they caused, the fear their broken marriage invoked in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-brenner/i-wanted-to-forgive-my-mom-and-my-dad-so-badly-for-the-deep-hurt-they/) [Natalie Brenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-brenner/) ## More by Richard Dawkins > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“The fundamentalist Kurt Wise proclaims that all the evidence in the universe would not change his mind. The true scientist, however passionately he may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-fundamentalist-kurt-wise-proclaims-that-all-the-evidence-in-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“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/) > [Religions do make claims about the universe--the same kinds of claims that scientists make, except they're usually false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/religions-do-make-claims-about-the-universe-the-same-kinds-of-claims/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“much of the Bible is not systematically evil but just plain weird, as you would expect of a chaotically cobbled-together anthology of disjointed documents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/much-of-the-bible-is-not-systematically-evil-but-just-plain-weird-as/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The recurrent laryngeal nerve - which runs from the head to the voice box - goes all the way down into the chest, loops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-recurrent-laryngeal-nerve-which-runs-from-the-head-to-the-voice/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The Roman Catholic Church is an institution for whose gains the phrase "ill-gotten" might have been specially invented. And of all its money-making rip-offs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-roman-catholic-church-is-an-institution-for-whose-gains-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Let us understand what our own selfish genes are up to because we may then at least have the chance to upset their designs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/let-us-understand-what-our-own-selfish-genes-are-up-to-because-we-may/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [What's going to happen when I die? I may be buried, or I may be cremated, I may give my body to science. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/what-s-going-to-happen-when-i-die-i-may-be-buried-or-i-may-be/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We have seen that living things are too improbable and too beautifully 'designed' to have come into existence by chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-have-seen-that-living-things-are-too-improbable-and-too/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“We will not go quietly away. If in the future that requires violence”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-will-not-go-quietly-away-if-in-the-future-that-requires-violence/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It's a truly disgusting idea that the creator of the universe - capable of inventing the laws of physics and designing the evolutionary process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-s-a-truly-disgusting-idea-that-the-creator-of-the-universe-capable/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Explore all 1,239 Richard Dawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## 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": "The idea that God could only forgive our sins by having his son tortured to death as a scapegoat is surely, from an objective point of view, a deeply unpleasant idea. If God wanted to forgive us our sins, why didn't he just forgive them? 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