--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God was invented to explain mystery. God…" description: "\"God was invented to explain mystery. God is always invented to explain those things that you do not understand.\" — Richard P. Feynman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/richard-p-feynman-495_atheism_god-was-invented-to-explain-mystery-god_2028463.png" --- # God was invented to explain mystery. God is always… ![“God was invented to explain mystery. God is always invented to explain those things that you do not understand.” quote by Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/richard-p-feynman-495_atheism_god-was-invented-to-explain-mystery-god_2028463.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/richard-p-feynman-495_atheism_god-was-invented-to-explain-mystery-god_2028463.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/richard-p-feynman-495_atheism_god-was-invented-to-explain-mystery-god_2028463.png) > “God was invented to explain mystery. God is always invented to explain those things that you do not understand.” [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans create deities to fill gaps in knowledge about the unknown. **In simple terms:** God is a human invention for mystery. Key Takeaway Question mysteries, seek evidence. Themes belief knowledge human nature Mood curious skeptical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - religious debate - science education - personal crisis - cultural studies Key Concepts mythology epistemology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What mysteries do you attribute to divine causes? - How does belief affect scientific inquiry? A Different Perspective Faith can provide comfort even when evidence is lacking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inventing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventing-things/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Mystery of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery-of-god/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion in society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-in-society/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Science and religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-and-religion/) ## Related quotes > [When I'm asked about my work, I try to explain that there is no mystery involved. It is work. But things happen all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/when-i-m-asked-about-my-work-i-try-to-explain-that-there-is-no/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [“I want her in a way I can't explain. That I don't ever want to be able to explain, because the mystery of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-crouch/i-want-her-in-a-way-i-can-t-explain-that-i-don-t-ever-want-to-be-able/) [Blake Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-crouch/) > [“The real mystery does not behave mysteriously or secretively; it speaks a secret language, it adumbrates itself by a variety of images which all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/the-real-mystery-does-not-behave-mysteriously-or-secretively-it/) [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) > [What is the purpose of writing? For me personally, it is really to explain the mystery of life, and the mystery of life includes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/what-is-the-purpose-of-writing-for-me-personally-it-is-really-to/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [We have this terrible struggle to try to explain things to people who have no reason to want to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/we-have-this-terrible-struggle-to-try-to-explain-things-to-people-who/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“He was still a mystery to me. And God, did I want to play Nancy Drew.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-carmack/he-was-still-a-mystery-to-me-and-god-did-i-want-to-play-nancy-drew/) [Cora Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-carmack/) > [The mystery of God hugs you in its all-encompassing arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hildegard-of-bingen/the-mystery-of-god-hugs-you-in-its-all-encompassing-arms/) [Hildegard of Bingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hildegard-of-bingen/) > [Trust God where you cannot see Him. Do not try to penetrate the cloud He brings over you; rather look to the bow that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ross-macduff/trust-god-where-you-cannot-see-him-do-not-try-to-penetrate-the-cloud/) [John Ross Macduff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ross-macduff/) > [The search for God's presence was much of a mystery as God himself, and what was God if not a mystery?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/the-search-for-god-s-presence-was-much-of-a-mystery-as-god-himself/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [...learn to perceive and control your chakras; they are like seven churches within you, each holding a different aspect of the Mystery of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-bernard-jordan/learn-to-perceive-and-control-your-chakras-they-are-like-seven/) E. Bernard Jordan > [You are encircled by the arms of the mystery of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hildegard-of-bingen/you-are-encircled-by-the-arms-of-the-mystery-of-god/) [Hildegard of Bingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hildegard-of-bingen/) > [It is Lucifer, The son of mystery; And since God suffers him to be, He too, is God's minister, And labors for some good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/it-is-lucifer-the-son-of-mystery-and-since-god-suffers-him-to-be-he/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [A genuine faith resolves the mystery of life by the mystery of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/a-genuine-faith-resolves-the-mystery-of-life-by-the-mystery-of-god/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [The human being of all times prays because he cannot fail to wonder about the meaning of his life, which remains obscure and discomforting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-human-being-of-all-times-prays-because-he-cannot-fail-to-wonder/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“There is an unsearchableness in this mystery of the Godhead, in the mystery of God becoming Man; in the mystery of the Mediator his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durham/there-is-an-unsearchableness-in-this-mystery-of-the-godhead-in-the/) James Durham ## More by Richard P. Feynman > [“Philosophers have said before that one of the fundamental requisites of science is that whenever you set up the same conditions, the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/philosophers-have-said-before-that-one-of-the-fundamental-requisites/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [My rule is, when you are unhappy, think about it. But when you're happy, don't. Why spoil it? You're probably happy for some ridiculous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/my-rule-is-when-you-are-unhappy-think-about-it-but-when-you-re-happy/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Trying to understand the way nature works involves a most terrible test of human reasoning ability. It involves subtle trickery, beautiful tightropes of logic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/trying-to-understand-the-way-nature-works-involves-a-most-terrible/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Today's brains are yesterday's mashed potatoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/today-s-brains-are-yesterday-s-mashed-potatoes/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Mathematics is a language plus reasoning; it is like a language plus logic. Mathematics is a tool for reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/mathematics-is-a-language-plus-reasoning-it-is-like-a-language-plus/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [It is necessary for the very existence of science that minds exist which do not allow that nature must satisfy some preconceived conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/it-is-necessary-for-the-very-existence-of-science-that-minds-exist/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“There was a Princess Somebody of Denmark sitting at a table with a number of people around her, and I saw an empty chair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-was-a-princess-somebody-of-denmark-sitting-at-a-table-with-a/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [All the time you're saying to yourself, 'I could do that, but I won't,'--which is just another way of saying that you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/all-the-time-you-re-saying-to-yourself-i-could-do-that-but-i-won-t/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“There's a big difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-s-a-big-difference-between-knowing-the-name-of-something-and/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [The fact that you are not sure means that it is possible that there is another way someday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-fact-that-you-are-not-sure-means-that-it-is-possible-that-there/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [You can always recognize truth by its beauty and simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/you-can-always-recognize-truth-by-its-beauty-and-simplicity/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [One cannot understand... the universality of laws of nature, the relationship of things, without an understanding of mathematics. There is no other way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/one-cannot-understand-the-universality-of-laws-of-nature-the/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Mathematics is not just a language. Mathematics is a language plus reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/mathematics-is-not-just-a-language-mathematics-is-a-language-plus/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [A poet once said, "The whole universe is in a glass of wine." We will probably never know in what sense he meant that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/a-poet-once-said-the-whole-universe-is-in-a-glass-of-wine-we-will/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I was a very shy character, always feeling uncomfortable because everybody was stronger than I, and always afraid I would look like a sissy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-was-a-very-shy-character-always-feeling-uncomfortable-because/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) [Explore all 515 Richard P. Feynman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) ## 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? 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