--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the face of God's obvious…" description: "\"“In the face of God's obvious inadequacies, the pious have generally held that one cannot apply earthly norms to the Creator of the universe. This argu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/474/sam-harris-457_quote_in-the-face-of-god-s-obvious-inadequacie_2166071.jpg" --- # In the face of God's obvious inadequacies, the pious have… ![“In the face of God's obvious inadequacies, the pious have generally held that one cannot apply earthly norms to the Creator of the universe. This argument loses its force the moment we notice that the Creator who purports to be beyond human judgment is consistently ruled by human passions…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/474/sam-harris-457_quote_in-the-face-of-god-s-obvious-inadequacie_2166071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/474/sam-harris-457_quote_in-the-face-of-god-s-obvious-inadequacie_2166071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/474/sam-harris-457_quote_in-the-face-of-god-s-obvious-inadequacie_2166071.jpg) > ““In the face of God's obvious inadequacies, the pious have generally held that one cannot apply earthly norms to the Creator of the universe. This argument loses its force the moment we notice that the Creator who purports to be beyond human judgment is consistently ruled by human passions— jealousy, wrath, suspicion, and the lust to dominate. A close study of our holy books reveals that the God of Abraham is a ridiculous fellow—capricious, petulant, and cruel—and one with whom a covenant is little guarantee of health or happiness. If these are the characteristics of God, then the worst among us have been created far more in his image than we ever could have hoped.”” [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## 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 argues that attributing human flaws to God undermines the idea of a perfect creator, suggesting divine behavior mirrors human vices. **In simple terms:** God is portrayed with human flaws, challenging divine perfection. Key Takeaway Question divine nature critically. Themes theology philosophy criticism human nature divine authority Mood skeptical provocative Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - debates on faith - academic discussions - personal reflection - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts Anthropomorphism moral relativism religious critique Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile faith with perceived divine imperfections? - Can morality exist without a perfect deity? A Different Perspective Not all religious experiences align with this view; some see God as transcendent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) ## Related quotes > [We know enough at this moment to say that the God of Abraham is not only unworthy of the immensity of creation; he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/we-know-enough-at-this-moment-to-say-that-the-god-of-abraham-is-not/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Everyone who has eyes to see can see that if the God of Abraham exists, He is an utter psychopath--and the God of Nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/everyone-who-has-eyes-to-see-can-see-that-if-the-god-of-abraham/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“But God was rolling. "No, Sarah will give you a boy named Isaac and I will be his god and both he and Ishmael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ebling/but-god-was-rolling-no-sarah-will-give-you-a-boy-named-isaac-and-i/) [Steve Ebling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ebling/) > [“For when God is said by these things to try men and prove them, to see what is in their hearts and whether they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/for-when-god-is-said-by-these-things-to-try-men-and-prove-them-to-see/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [No country has ever fallen while it was truly honoring the god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-gohmert/no-country-has-ever-fallen-while-it-was-truly-honoring-the-god-of/) [Louie Gohmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-gohmert/) > [“This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-is-what-i-am-trying-to-say-the-agreement-god-made-with-abraham/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How wonderfully beautiful is the delineation of the characters of the three patriarchs in Genesis! To be sure if ever man could, without impropriety,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/how-wonderfully-beautiful-is-the-delineation-of-the-characters-of-the/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [I have confused ideas of deity, heavily influenced by mind-altering years of reading science fiction, that do not often trouble me, but one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/i-have-confused-ideas-of-deity-heavily-influenced-by-mind-altering/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“I no longer ask You for either happiness or paradise; all I ask of You is to listen and let me be aware and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-no-longer-ask-you-for-either-happiness-or-paradise-all-i-ask-of-you/) [elie wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“suddenly understood perfectly why Abraham had agreed to sacrifice Isaac, his son, when the Lord commanded him to do so. It was not obedience.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/suddenly-understood-perfectly-why-abraham-had-agreed-to-sacrifice/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [More often than not, we want him to have fairy wings and spread fairy dust and shine like a precious little star, dispensing nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/more-often-than-not-we-want-him-to-have-fairy-wings-and-spread-fairy/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [I think we have reason to thank God for Abraham Lincoln. With all his deficiencies, it must be admitted that he has grown continually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/i-think-we-have-reason-to-thank-god-for-abraham-lincoln-with-all-his/) [Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [I don't want to claim that God is on our side. As Abraham Lincoln told us, I want to pray humbly that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-don-t-want-to-claim-that-god-is-on-our-side-as-abraham-lincoln-told/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [“Abraham was testing God. By denying the sacrifice at the last moment, by stopping the knife, God had earned the right—in Abraham’s eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/abraham-was-testing-god-by-denying-the-sacrifice-at-the-last-moment/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“The testing of Abraham’s faith was not for God to see if Abraham would obey since God knows everything from A to Z. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddick-van-zyl/the-testing-of-abraham-s-faith-was-not-for-god-to-see-if-abraham/) [Paddick Van Zyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddick-van-zyl/) ## More by Sam Harris > [“Moderates in every faith are obliged to loosely interpret (or simply ignore) much of their canons in the interests of living in the modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/moderates-in-every-faith-are-obliged-to-loosely-interpret-or-simply/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [There is no question but that nominally religious scientists like Francis Collins and Kenneth R. Miller are doing lasting harm to our discourse by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/there-is-no-question-but-that-nominally-religious-scientists-like/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [We have Christians against Muslims against Jews, and no matter how liberal your theology, merely identifying yourself as a Christian or a Jew lends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/we-have-christians-against-muslims-against-jews-and-no-matter-how/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“Your principal concern appears to be that the Creator of the universe will take offense at something people do while naked. This prudery of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/your-principal-concern-appears-to-be-that-the-creator-of-the-universe/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“As manuals for contemplative understanding, the Bible and the Koran are worse than useless. Whatever wisdom can be found in their pages is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/as-manuals-for-contemplative-understanding-the-bible-and-the-koran/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [About 120 million of us place the big bang 2,500 years after the Babylonians and Sumerians learned to brew beer. If our polls are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/about-120-million-of-us-place-the-big-bang-2-500-years-after-the/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“If your golf instructor were to insist that you shave your head, sleep no more than four hours each night, renounce sex, and subsist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/if-your-golf-instructor-were-to-insist-that-you-shave-your-head-sleep/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The fact that one can lose one's sense of self in an ocean of tranquility does not mean that one's consciousness is immaterial or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-fact-that-one-can-lose-one-s-sense-of-self-in-an-ocean-of/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The second commandment is "Thou shall not construct any graven images." Is this really the pinnacle of what we can achieve morally? The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not-construct-any-graven-images/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“But the reality of consciousness appears irreducible. Only consciousness can know itself—and directly, through first-person experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/but-the-reality-of-consciousness-appears-irreducible-only/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“Whether or not one likes Huntington's formulation, one thing is clear: the evil that has finally reached our shores is not merely the evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/whether-or-not-one-likes-huntington-s-formulation-one-thing-is-clear/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The problem is that religion tends to give people bad reasons to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-problem-is-that-religion-tends-to-give-people-bad-reasons-to-be/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Muslim moderates, wherever they are, must be given every tool necessary to win a war of ideas with their co-religionists. Otherwise, we will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/muslim-moderates-wherever-they-are-must-be-given-every-tool-necessary/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The idea that any one of our religions represents the infallible word of the One True God requires an encyclopedic ignorance of history, mythology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-idea-that-any-one-of-our-religions-represents-the-infallible-word/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“What could possibly cause billions of human beings to reconsider their religious beliefs? And yet, it is obvious that an utter revolution in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/what-could-possibly-cause-billions-of-human-beings-to-reconsider/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) [Explore all 543 Sam Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## More Abraham quotes > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Hebron is a bone of contention between Israeli settlers and the Palestinians in part because Abraham is buried there, in the Tomb of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/hebron-is-a-bone-of-contention-between-israeli-settlers-and-the/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee, because we are not going to allow - people will wake up and we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/donald-trump-is-not-going-to-be-the-nominee-because-we-are-not-going/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“Never you look down on your Abraham because of your Sarah because the blessing is not in the womb of Sarah but in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-izuakor/never-you-look-down-on-your-abraham-because-of-your-sarah-because-the/) [Ikechukwu Izuakor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-izuakor/) > [“Whatever you are, be a good one.”   Abraham Lincoln”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rriiver-nyile/whatever-you-are-be-a-good-one-abraham-lincoln/) [Rriiver Nyile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rriiver-nyile/) > [Moses was a great leader, right? But he wasn't a great communicator. And so God sent him Aaron so he could, let's say, communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/moses-was-a-great-leader-right-but-he-wasn-t-a-great-communicator-and/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [“king of Heshbon. 6 b Moses, the servant of the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/king-of-heshbon-6-b-moses-the-servant-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the end, thought Sol, past logic and hope, it is dreams and the love of those dearest to us that form Abraham’s answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/in-the-end-thought-sol-past-logic-and-hope-it-is-dreams-and-the-love/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [It was psychobabbler Abraham Maslow who wrote of the phenomena of self-actualization. What Maslow failed to grasp is that reaching true self-actualization can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/it-was-psychobabbler-abraham-maslow-who-wrote-of-the-phenomena-of/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [“Mungu hutumia watu 'wajinga' na 'wapumbavu' kufanya mambo makubwa katika maisha yao na ya watu wengine. Katika Biblia, Musa aliitwa mjinga alipokiuka amri ya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mungu-hutumia-watu-wajinga-na-wapumbavu-kufanya-mambo-makubwa-katika/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [“9. Abraham’s death (25:1 – 11) After Sarah’s death, Abraham took another wife, Keturah. Abraham was a rejuvenated old man and continued to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-sailhamer/9-abraham-s-death-25-1-11-after-sarah-s-death-abraham-took-another/) [John H. Sailhamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-sailhamer/) > [“The biblical story of the binding of Isaac shows that human sacrifice was far from unthinkable in the 1st millennium BCE. The Israelites boasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-biblical-story-of-the-binding-of-isaac-shows-that-human-sacrifice/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Everybody faces obstacles. And I looked to people who had been through many to succeed in life. Abraham Lincoln, born to a poor family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/everybody-faces-obstacles-and-i-looked-to-people-who-had-been-through/) [Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/) > [Someone asked me...how it felt and I was reminded of a story that a fellow townsman of ours used to tell--Abraham Lincoln. They asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-asked-me-how-it-felt-and-i-was-reminded-of-a-story-that-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [American foreign policy and military might have opened an opportunity for the Gospel in the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/american-foreign-policy-and-military-might-have-opened-an-opportunity/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) [Browse all 484 Abraham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In the face of God's obvious inadequacies, the pious have generally held that one cannot apply earthly norms to the Creator of the universe. This argument loses its force the moment we notice that the Creator who purports to be beyond human judgment is consistently ruled by human passions— jealousy, wrath, suspicion, and the lust to dominate. A close study of our holy books reveals that the God of Abraham is a ridiculous fellow—capricious, petulant, and cruel—and one with whom a covenant is little guarantee of health or happiness. 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