--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is no god, what is left but…" description: "\"If there is no god, what is left but science? What is left to endow us with any grace? You can tell me the chemical makeup of my skin and my brain, but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c40/sharon-shinn-10524_brain_if-there-is-no-god-what-is-left-but-scie_1584305.jpg" --- # If there is no god, what is left but science? What is left… ![“If there is no god, what is left but science? What is left to endow us with any grace? You can tell me the chemical makeup of my skin and my brain, but how can you explain away my soul? And if there is no god to watch over me, chastise me, grieve for me, rejoice for me, make me fear, and make me…” quote by Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c40/sharon-shinn-10524_brain_if-there-is-no-god-what-is-left-but-scie_1584305.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c40/sharon-shinn-10524_brain_if-there-is-no-god-what-is-left-but-scie_1584305.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c40/sharon-shinn-10524_brain_if-there-is-no-god-what-is-left-but-scie_1584305.jpg) > “If there is no god, what is left but science? What is left to endow us with any grace? You can tell me the chemical makeup of my skin and my brain, but how can you explain away my soul? And if there is no god to watch over me, chastise me, grieve for me, rejoice for me, make me fear, and make me wonder, what am I but a collection of metals and liquids with nothing to celebrate about my daily living?” [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without belief in a deity, science explains the material world but leaves existential questions about meaning and soul unanswered. **In simple terms:** Science answers how, not why we exist. Key Takeaway Seek meaning beyond material explanations. Themes existence faith science meaning Mood thoughtful existential Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - philosophical debate - artistic creation - therapy Key Concepts philosophy spirituality materialism Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life meaning? - Can science and spirituality coexist? A Different Perspective Science alone may not satisfy existential longing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Chastise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chastise/) [Daily living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-living/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Grieving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grieving/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Makeup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makeup/) [Metals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metals/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [There is no god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/there-is-no-god/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [“While the art of printing is left to us science can never be retrograde; what is once acquired of real knowledge can never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/while-the-art-of-printing-is-left-to-us-science-can-never-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“And he should chastise the girl, he knows that, but she is his brightest ember and he would not have her dimmed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nneka-arimah/and-he-should-chastise-the-girl-he-knows-that-but-she-is-his/) [Lesley Nneka Arimah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nneka-arimah/) > [I think the media are so hypocritical a lot of the time in the way they chastise something just so that they can print…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-cole/i-think-the-media-are-so-hypocritical-a-lot-of-the-time-in-the-way/) [Lily Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-cole/) > [Many pastors criticize me for taking the Gospel so seriously. But do they really think that on Judgment Day, Christ will chastise me, saying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/many-pastors-criticize-me-for-taking-the-gospel-so-seriously-but-do/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [Respect the young and chastise your elders. It's about time the world was set aright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/respect-the-young-and-chastise-your-elders-it-s-about-time-the-world/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [Love is something in the heart and in the mind, so why would you chastise anyone for that? And this is something that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldie-hawn/love-is-something-in-the-heart-and-in-the-mind-so-why-would-you/) [Goldie Hawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldie-hawn/) > [He alone may chastise who loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/he-alone-may-chastise-who-loves/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Be calm when your wife yells at you, calmer when she chastens you, but be terrified when she ignores you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/be-calm-when-your-wife-yells-at-you-calmer-when-she-chastens-you-but/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [Some people say I chastise the Republican Party too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/some-people-say-i-chastise-the-republican-party-too-much/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I don't care what your religion is, as long as it doesn't chastise anybody that's not part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gries/i-don-t-care-what-your-religion-is-as-long-as-it-doesn-t-chastise/) [Jon Gries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gries/) > [“Laurent. Why must you always defy me? I hate it when we are at odds, yet you force me to chastise you. You seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/laurent-why-must-you-always-defy-me-i-hate-it-when-we-are-at-odds-yet/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“Whenever they are condemning weaves or breast implants, some people speak so passionately that their false teeth almost fall out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/whenever-they-are-condemning-weaves-or-breast-implants-some-people/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [There is no passion that so much transports men from their right judgments as anger. No one would demur upon punishing a judge with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-is-no-passion-that-so-much-transports-men-from-their-right/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I would gladly chastise those who represent things as different from what they are. Those who steal property or make counterfeit money are punished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-would-gladly-chastise-those-who-represent-things-as-different-from/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [You chastise children when they are bad, as my parents did me. I'm not opposed to smacking. It is to be used occasionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/you-chastise-children-when-they-are-bad-as-my-parents-did-me-i-m-not/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) ## More by Sharon Shinn > [She smiled, if he could see that, and waited for him to ask the real question. But he was silent. He wanted her to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/she-smiled-if-he-could-see-that-and-waited-for-him-to-ask-the-real/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [“...the townhouses looked bedraggled, unkempt, like an old homeless woman with an interesting history but a perilous future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/the-townhouses-looked-bedraggled-unkempt-like-an-old-homeless-woman/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [Yes, Jenna, I love you with all my heart. And with my atoms and molecules and electrons and whatever further breakdown you require.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/yes-jenna-i-love-you-with-all-my-heart-and-with-my-atoms-and/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [“And might I live long enough to see the world yet again as a place completely different, through eyes that see another truth not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/and-might-i-live-long-enough-to-see-the-world-yet-again-as-a-place/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [Only the strongest are put through the fire,' Josiah said. 'And the forge creates things of great strength and beauty.' 'Then I shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/only-the-strongest-are-put-through-the-fire-josiah-said-and-the-forge/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [I realized a long time ago, with a certain amazement, that no mattter how important something is in your life, no matter how huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/i-realized-a-long-time-ago-with-a-certain-amazement-that-no-mattter/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [“She was smiling as she leaned toward Reed, who stooped down to put his lips against her ear. He would tell her that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/she-was-smiling-as-she-leaned-toward-reed-who-stooped-down-to-put-his/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [Manufactured--synthetic--even virtual, if that is what you turned out to be--I would love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/manufactured-synthetic-even-virtual-if-that-is-what-you-turned-out-to/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [Your wedding completely changes the direction of your life, you know, no matter how greatly you desire it. I think that moment of doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/your-wedding-completely-changes-the-direction-of-your-life-you-know/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [It is very easy to shun someone who is deliberately cruel, and everyone loathes a man who is brutal and vicious. Such people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/it-is-very-easy-to-shun-someone-who-is-deliberately-cruel-and/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [“But I am king. And the well-being of my kingdom depends on my sound judgment and clear head. And those things depend on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/but-i-am-king-and-the-well-being-of-my-kingdom-depends-on-my-sound/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [“How did they find out?" Donnal inquired. "Did you set them on fire?" "You know, it's so rare that I actually do that, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/how-did-they-find-out-donnal-inquired-did-you-set-them-on-fire-you/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [“I wonder,” I said. “Perhaps you can meet with an accident on the road. Harwin and I can bring back the sad news that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/i-wonder-i-said-perhaps-you-can-meet-with-an-accident-on-the-road/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [You have not traveled enough," she said. "Or you'd know that every journey makes its own map across your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/you-have-not-traveled-enough-she-said-or-you-d-know-that-every/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [He is so kind that he makes me search my soul to find new ways to be compassionate to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/he-is-so-kind-that-he-makes-me-search-my-soul-to-find-new-ways-to-be/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) [Explore all 65 Sharon Shinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [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/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. 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