---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Number three: Stay away from the church…"
description: "\"“Number three: Stay away from the church. In the battle over science vs. religion, science offers credible evidence for all the serious claims it makes..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/seth-mcfarlane-70013_atheism_number-three-stay-away-from-the-church-i_937726.jpg"
---

#  Number three: Stay away from the church. In the battle…

![“Number three: Stay away from the church. In the battle over science vs. religion, science offers credible evidence for all the serious claims it makes. The church says, 'Oh, it’s right here in this book, see? The one written by people who thought the sun was magic?' I for one would like to see…” quote by Seth Mcfarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/seth-mcfarlane-70013_atheism_number-three-stay-away-from-the-church-i_937726.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/seth-mcfarlane-70013_atheism_number-three-stay-away-from-the-church-i_937726.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/seth-mcfarlane-70013_atheism_number-three-stay-away-from-the-church-i_937726.jpg)

> ““Number three: Stay away from the church. In the battle over science vs. religion, science offers credible evidence for all the serious claims it makes. The church says, 'Oh, it’s right here in this book, see? The one written by people who thought the sun was magic?' I for one would like to see some proof that there is a God. And if you say 'a baby’s smile' I’m going to kick you right in the stomach. -Stewie””

Seth Mcfarlane

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Science relies on observable evidence, while religious claims often lack empirical proof; the speaker dismisses faith‑based arguments as insufficient.

**In simple terms:** Science needs evidence; faith often doesn’t.

Key Takeaway

Demand proof before belief.

Themes

science faith skepticism evidence belief

Mood

skeptical critical confrontational

Type

argumentative philosophical

When to use this quote

- debates on religion
- education
- public policy
- personal belief challenges

Key Concepts

empiricism philosophy of religion critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence would change your view?
- Can belief coexist with skepticism?

A Different Perspective

Faith can provide comfort and meaning even without proof.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [“The church says the earth is flat; but I have seen its shadow on the moon, and I have more confidence even in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-magellan/the-church-says-the-earth-is-flat-but-i-have-seen-its-shadow-on-the/)

Ferdinand Magellan

> [“The Church says that the earth is flat, but I know that it is round, for I have seen the shadow on the moon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-church-says-that-the-earth-is-flat-but-i-know-that-it-is-round-2/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [The Church says that the Earth is flat, but I know that it is round. For I have seen the shadow of the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-magellan/the-church-says-that-the-earth-is-flat-but-i-know-that-it-is-round/)

Ferdinand Magellan

> [“There are many people in this world who think that it is wrong for two women to be in love, and also wrong for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-dax/there-are-many-people-in-this-world-who-think-that-it-is-wrong-for/)

Rachel Dax

> [In the New Testament church it says they were all amazed - And now in our churches everybody wants to be amused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/in-the-new-testament-church-it-says-they-were-all-amazed-and-now-in/)

[Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/)

> [Now, where a man in this church says, 'I don't want but one wife, I will live my religion with one,' he will perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/now-where-a-man-in-this-church-says-i-don-t-want-but-one-wife-i-will/)

[Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/)

> [Religion should be about your relationship with God, not what the church says you can and can't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-guerrero/religion-should-be-about-your-relationship-with-god-not-what-the/)

[Eddie Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-guerrero/)

> [“Am I really going to hell for being gay?” Or, “I have a lot of lesbian thoughts in my head. Does that make me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/am-i-really-going-to-hell-for-being-gay-or-i-have-a-lot-of-lesbian/)

[Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/)

> [“That is the idea -- that we should all be wicked if we did not hold to the Christian religion. It seems to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-is-the-idea-that-we-should-all-be-wicked-if-we-did-not-hold-to/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [If a young dog strays up the aisle during church no one says anything, no one does anything, but, none the less, he soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-smyth/if-a-young-dog-strays-up-the-aisle-during-church-no-one-says-anything/)

[Ethel Smyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-smyth/)

> [“There have to be men out there like us: committed to the Gospel, if not the culture of the church, she says. I nod…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-hardy/there-have-to-be-men-out-there-like-us-committed-to-the-gospel-if-not/)

[Nicole Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-hardy/)

> [As children we were bombarded by competing answers. Church says one thing, school another. Now as adults it's no surprise that if we discuss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lanza/as-children-we-were-bombarded-by-competing-answers-church-says-one/)

[Robert Lanza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lanza/)

> [“It is not the Word of God because the church says so; but that the Word of God might be spoken, therefore the church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/it-is-not-the-word-of-god-because-the-church-says-so-but-that-the/)

[R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/)

> [We, Catholics, share many of the moral guidelines of Mormons, the difference is you guys take it seriously. When the church says something we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/we-catholics-share-many-of-the-moral-guidelines-of-mormons-the/)

[Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/)

> [“The fact is, it is selfish for a church to not want to grow. A church that says, “We’ve got enough people, we’ve got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-fact-is-it-is-selfish-for-a-church-to-not-want-to-grow-a-church/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

## More by Seth Mcfarlane

> [“Here you can see the things that other people created but that I use to express my indiviualism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-mcfarlane/here-you-can-see-the-things-that-other-people-created-but-that-i-use/)

Seth Mcfarlane

> [“We're surrounded by people who don’t make that distinction. If you say to them ‘there’s a monster living in my closet, you can’t see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-mcfarlane/we-re-surrounded-by-people-who-don-t-make-that-distinction-if-you-say/)

Seth Mcfarlane

> [“How you, uh...How you comin on that novel... you're workin on? - Stewie Griffin, Family Guy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-mcfarlane/how-you-uh-how-you-comin-on-that-novel-you-re-workin-on-stewie/)

Seth Mcfarlane

Explore all 4 Seth Mcfarlane quotes

## 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": "“Number three: Stay away from the church. In the battle over science vs. religion, science offers credible evidence for all the serious claims it makes. The church says, 'Oh, it’s right here in this book, see? The one written by people who thought the sun was magic?' I for one would like to see some proof that there is a God. And if you say 'a baby’s smile' I’m going to kick you right in the stomach. -Stewie”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Seth Mcfarlane"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-mcfarlane/number-three-stay-away-from-the-church-in-the-battle-over-science-vs/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Atheism"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-mcfarlane/number-three-stay-away-from-the-church-in-the-battle-over-science-vs/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/seth-mcfarlane-70013_atheism_number-three-stay-away-from-the-church-i_937726.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/seth-mcfarlane-70013_atheism_number-three-stay-away-from-the-church-i_937726.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/seth-mcfarlane-70013_atheism_number-three-stay-away-from-the-church-i_937726.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Number three: Stay away from the church. In the battle over science vs. religion, science offers credible…” — Seth Mcfarlane",
                "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": "Seth Mcfarlane",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-mcfarlane/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Number three: Stay away from the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-mcfarlane/number-three-stay-away-from-the-church-in-the-battle-over-science-vs/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-mcfarlane/number-three-stay-away-from-the-church-in-the-battle-over-science-vs/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
