--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If human beings had really tried to…" description: "\"“If human beings had really tried to invent a god, we would never have invented the God of Christianity. He’s just too terrifying. Our God is all-power..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/scott-hahn-12262_christianity_if-human-beings-had-really-tried-to-inve_1090484.jpg" --- # If human beings had really tried to invent a god, we would… ![“If human beings had really tried to invent a god, we would never have invented the God of Christianity. He’s just too terrifying. Our God is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-holy, and omnipresent. There’s no place to run and hide from Him, no place where we might secretly indulge a favorite vice. We…” quote by Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/scott-hahn-12262_christianity_if-human-beings-had-really-tried-to-inve_1090484.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/scott-hahn-12262_christianity_if-human-beings-had-really-tried-to-inve_1090484.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/scott-hahn-12262_christianity_if-human-beings-had-really-tried-to-inve_1090484.jpg) > ““If human beings had really tried to invent a god, we would never have invented the God of Christianity. He’s just too terrifying. Our God is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-holy, and omnipresent. There’s no place to run and hide from Him, no place where we might secretly indulge a favorite vice. We can’t even retreat into the dark corners of our minds to fantasize about that vice without God knowing it right away.”” [Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to create a deity that mirrors human fears results in a terrifying, omniscient God, limiting imagination and moral freedom. **In simple terms:** Creating a God based on fear yields a terrifying deity. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about divine nature. Themes theology philosophy psychology freedom authority Mood contemplative critical Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal belief formation - religious education - moral decision‑making Key Concepts divine nature human imagination ethical autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What does a non‑terrifying God look like? - How does fear shape religious practice? A Different Perspective Such a view may oversimplify complex theological traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-christianity-756040/) [God Invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-invented/) [Invent God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invent-god-735458/) [Invented God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invented-god-253713/) [Terrifying God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrifying-god-2124352/) [Without god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-god/) ## Related quotes > [“All religions of a spiritual nature are inventions of man. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-healy/people-sometimes-tell-me-that-they-re-afraid-to-pursue-seeing-in-the/) [Blake Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-healy/) > [Why would the disciples invent a God whose holiness was more terrifying than the forces of nature that provoked them to invent a god…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-would-the-disciples-invent-a-god-whose-holiness-was-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If God did not exist, we should have to invent him. 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The Bible teaches that he decided not to give us what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/the-god-of-christianity-never-claims-to-be-fair-he-goes-beyond-fair/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [It was the craving to be a one and only people which impelled the ancient Hebrews to invent a one and only God whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-was-the-craving-to-be-a-one-and-only-people-which-impelled-the/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There was no religion in my life growing up. Did God invent us or did we invent God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/there-was-no-religion-in-my-life-growing-up-did-god-invent-us-or-did/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“You never believed in God, Doc, did you? You said if God created man in His image, why couldn't man invent a God that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabih-alameddine/you-never-believed-in-god-doc-did-you-you-said-if-god-created-man-in/) [Rabih Alameddine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabih-alameddine/) > [We don't only invent God; we also discover God. Looking at the creation, we strive to deduce the nature of the creator. We take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-church/we-don-t-only-invent-god-we-also-discover-god-looking-at-the-creation/) [Forrest Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-church/) ## More by Scott Hahn > [To go to Mass is to go to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hahn/to-go-to-mass-is-to-go-to-heaven/) [Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) > [“Remember that Israel's tradition always had men worshiping in imitation of angels. 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Discipline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hahn/as-we-grow-detached-from-things-we-come-with-god-s-help-to-master-our/) [Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) > [“Spiritual exegesis is not an unrestrained flight of the imagination. Rather, it is a sacred science that proceeds according to certain principles and stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hahn/spiritual-exegesis-is-not-an-unrestrained-flight-of-the-imagination/) [Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) > [“Inerrancy is our guarantee that the words and deeds of God found in the Bible are unified and true, declaring with one voice the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hahn/inerrancy-is-our-guarantee-that-the-words-and-deeds-of-god-found-in/) [Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) > [“Both Christ and Scripture, says the Second Vatican Council, are given "for the sake of our salvation" (Dei Verbum 11), and both give us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hahn/both-christ-and-scripture-says-the-second-vatican-council-are-given/) [Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) > [“The Mass, it seems, is like the Normandy invasion in the spiritual realm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hahn/the-mass-it-seems-is-like-the-normandy-invasion-in-the-spiritual-realm/) [Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) > [“The principle of biblical inerrancy follows logically from this principle of divine authorship. After all, God cannot lie, and he cannot make mistakes. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hahn/the-principle-of-biblical-inerrancy-follows-logically-from-this/) [Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) > [At the root of all misery is unfulfilled desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hahn/at-the-root-of-all-misery-is-unfulfilled-desire/) [Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) > [Mary is God's masterpiece. Have you ever walked into a museum where an artist was displaying his work? Can you imagine him being offended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hahn/mary-is-god-s-masterpiece-have-you-ever-walked-into-a-museum-where-an/) [Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) [Explore all 55 Scott Hahn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. 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