--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The claim 'God does not exist' is just as…" description: "\"“The claim 'God does not exist' is just as much a claim to know something as saying 'God does exist,' meaning the atheist needs just as much substantia..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/scott-klusendorf-28089_atheism_the-claim-god-does-not-exist-is-just-as_3041342.jpg" --- # The claim 'God does not exist' is just as much a claim to… ![“The claim 'God does not exist' is just as much a claim to know something as saying 'God does exist,' meaning the atheist needs just as much substantiation for his claim as the theist does for his.” quote by Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/scott-klusendorf-28089_atheism_the-claim-god-does-not-exist-is-just-as_3041342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/scott-klusendorf-28089_atheism_the-claim-god-does-not-exist-is-just-as_3041342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/scott-klusendorf-28089_atheism_the-claim-god-does-not-exist-is-just-as_3041342.jpg) > ““The claim 'God does not exist' is just as much a claim to know something as saying 'God does exist,' meaning the atheist needs just as much substantiation for his claim as the theist does for his.”” [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Both atheism and theism make knowledge claims that require evidence; neither side should be exempt from justification. **In simple terms:** Both belief and disbelief need proof. Key Takeaway Demand evidence for all existential claims. Themes epistemology faith atheism theism Mood skeptical inquisitive Type philosophical debate When to use this quote - academic discourse - public debates - personal belief exploration - education curricula Key Concepts philosophy critical thinking debate ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate evidence for unseen concepts? - What standards should apply to all belief systems? A Different Perspective People often accept claims without evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist-needs-5013981/) [Claim God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claim-god-605837/) [Claim Theist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claim-theist-5013978/) [Meaning Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-atheist-5013980/) [Theist Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theist-does-5013979/) ## Related quotes > [Some claim God body, blame Illuminati. All cause his pockets now knotty as his hair, yeah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pusha-t/some-claim-god-body-blame-illuminati-all-cause-his-pockets-now-knotty/) [Pusha T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pusha-t/) > [The easiest way to establish a dictatorship is to claim you are God's representative on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-easiest-way-to-establish-a-dictatorship-is-to-claim-you-are-god-s/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [If it is true, if it is beautiful, if it is honorable, if it is right, then claim it. Because it is from God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/if-it-is-true-if-it-is-beautiful-if-it-is-honorable-if-it-is-right/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [I know that some consider it controversial for me to claim that God saved my life when I had received an experimental drug and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-brantly/i-know-that-some-consider-it-controversial-for-me-to-claim-that-god/) [Kent Brantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-brantly/) > [Sientist claim but only god knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/sientist-claim-but-only-god-knows/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [The tendency to claim God as an ally for our partisan value and ends is the source of all religious fanaticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/the-tendency-to-claim-god-as-an-ally-for-our-partisan-value-and-ends/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [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/) > [As powerful as anyone may claim God to be, somehow he always needs money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/as-powerful-as-anyone-may-claim-god-to-be-somehow-he-always-needs/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“We may question what we believe, but most of us are pretty clear about who we love, and who loves us. It is such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenda-creasy-dean/we-may-question-what-we-believe-but-most-of-us-are-pretty-clear-about/) [Kenda Creasy Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenda-creasy-dean/) > [“It is terrible to represent God as unrelated to us in the way of appeal to his righteousness. How should he be righteous without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/it-is-terrible-to-represent-god-as-unrelated-to-us-in-the-way-of/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [You can claim that God is guiding you and revealing to you the answer or solution to your problem. Accept the truth that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/you-can-claim-that-god-is-guiding-you-and-revealing-to-you-the-answer/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [Human beings are the only creatures on earth that claim a God and the only thing that behaves like it hasn't got one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-on-earth-that-claim-a-god-and-the/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [When you look at the history of wars, they ultimately revolve around one claim: "My god is better than yours."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-lapid/when-you-look-at-the-history-of-wars-they-ultimately-revolve-around/) [Yair Lapid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-lapid/) > [Anytime you have anyone who thinks he or she has God in their pocket, you have the potential for disaster, ... Throughout history, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kimball/anytime-you-have-anyone-who-thinks-he-or-she-has-god-in-their-pocket/) [Charles Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kimball/) > [The prime minister has chosen to acknowledge publicly the sovereignty of God and the claim of God on her life. Hers is the challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-robinson/the-prime-minister-has-chosen-to-acknowledge-publicly-the-sovereignty/) [Philip Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-robinson/) ## More by Scott Klusendorf > [“Is the unborn a member of the human family? If so, killing him or her to benefit others is a serious moral wrong. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/is-the-unborn-a-member-of-the-human-family-if-so-killing-him-or-her/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“Here's the problem for the secularist: where does the right to an abortion come from? If it comes from the state, he really can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/here-s-the-problem-for-the-secularist-where-does-the-right-to-an/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“To say that science is the measure of all true knowledge is not a scientific truth but a philosophic claim about science. It's scientism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/to-say-that-science-is-the-measure-of-all-true-knowledge-is-not-a/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“The Bible does not speak to all issues (for example, where did AIDS come from?), and science says little about doctrine (for example, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/the-bible-does-not-speak-to-all-issues-for-example-where-did-aids/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“When pro-life advocates claim that elective abortion unjustly takes the life of a defenseless human being, they are not saying they dislike abortion. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/when-pro-life-advocates-claim-that-elective-abortion-unjustly-takes/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“Gregg Cunningham once said, “There are more people working full-time to kill babies than there are working full-time to save them. That’s because killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/gregg-cunningham-once-said-there-are-more-people-working-full-time-to/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“For too long the pro-life movement has been shouting conclusions rather than establishing facts. Staying focused on the status of the unborn brings moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/for-too-long-the-pro-life-movement-has-been-shouting-conclusions/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“Pro-life advocates don't oppose abortion because they find it distasteful; they oppose it because it violates rational moral principles. The negative emotional response follows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/pro-life-advocates-don-t-oppose-abortion-because-they-find-it/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“Few people can present a completely secular argument detailing why abusing toddlers is objectively wrong. But that hardly stops them from recognizing this moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/few-people-can-present-a-completely-secular-argument-detailing-why/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“What makes humans valuable in the first place? Science can't answer that question because science deals only with things we can measure empirically though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/what-makes-humans-valuable-in-the-first-place-science-can-t-answer/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“If moral truths do not exist as a foundation for law, then law itself becomes merely a system of raw political power accountable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/if-moral-truths-do-not-exist-as-a-foundation-for-law-then-law-itself/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“There is no conflict between science and faith if science means an objective investigation of the facts and faith means knowledge based on evidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/there-is-no-conflict-between-science-and-faith-if-science-means-an/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“The real conflict over cosmology is not between religion and science-- it's between religion and materialism, between those who think that religious truth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/the-real-conflict-over-cosmology-is-not-between-religion-and-science/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“The Declaration of Independence, Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, and Martin Luther King's 'Letter from the Birmingham Jail' all have their metaphysical roots in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/the-declaration-of-independence-abraham-lincoln-s-second-inaugural/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) > [“In the past, we used to discriminate on the basis of skin color and gender (and still do at times), but now with elective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/in-the-past-we-used-to-discriminate-on-the-basis-of-skin-color-and/) [Scott Klusendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) [Explore all 20 Scott Klusendorf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/) ## 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 claim 'God does not exist' is just as much a claim to know something as saying 'God does exist,' meaning the atheist needs just as much substantiation for his claim as the theist does for his.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Scott Klusendorf" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/the-claim-god-does-not-exist-is-just-as-much-a-claim-to-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/the-claim-god-does-not-exist-is-just-as-much-a-claim-to-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/scott-klusendorf-28089_atheism_the-claim-god-does-not-exist-is-just-as_3041342.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/scott-klusendorf-28089_atheism_the-claim-god-does-not-exist-is-just-as_3041342.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/scott-klusendorf-28089_atheism_the-claim-god-does-not-exist-is-just-as_3041342.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The claim 'God does not exist' is just as much a claim to know something as saying 'God does exist,' meaning…” — Scott Klusendorf", "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": "Scott Klusendorf", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-klusendorf/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The claim 'God does not exist'...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/the-claim-god-does-not-exist-is-just-as-much-a-claim-to-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-klusendorf/the-claim-god-does-not-exist-is-just-as-much-a-claim-to-know/#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 } } ] } ```