--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is a God, I doubt he is such a…" description: "\"“If there is a God, I doubt he is such a hard-liner. Rather, I imagine him greeting the men and women who take their own lives like a police chief surp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/steve-toltz-3783_god_if-there-is-a-god-i-doubt-he-is-such-a-h_2248984.png" --- # If there is a God, I doubt he is such a hard-liner… ![“If there is a God, I doubt he is such a hard-liner. Rather, I imagine him greeting the men and women who take their own lives like a police chief surprised when a wanted criminal turns himself in. “You!” he might say, not angry so much as slightly disappointed that he won’t get the credit or the…” quote by Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/steve-toltz-3783_god_if-there-is-a-god-i-doubt-he-is-such-a-h_2248984.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/steve-toltz-3783_god_if-there-is-a-god-i-doubt-he-is-such-a-h_2248984.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/steve-toltz-3783_god_if-there-is-a-god-i-doubt-he-is-such-a-h_2248984.png) > ““If there is a God, I doubt he is such a hard-liner. Rather, I imagine him greeting the men and women who take their own lives like a police chief surprised when a wanted criminal turns himself in. “You!” he might say, not angry so much as slightly disappointed that he won’t get the credit or the satisfaction for the capture.”” [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) ## 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 suggests that if a deity exists, He would be more compassionate than punitive, viewing suicide as a tragic surrender rather than a crime, and feeling disappointment rather than anger at the loss of potential redemption. **In simple terms:** God would be compassionate, not vengeful, toward those who end their lives. Key Takeaway Recognize compassion over judgment. Themes compassion existence suicide divine judgment Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - counseling - mental health support - philosophical debate - religious discussion Key Concepts theology existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How would you respond to someone who feels abandoned by faith? - What role does compassion play in moral judgments? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex theological views and personal suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) ## Related quotes > [If my love for you is a crime, I want to be the most wanted criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-my-love-for-you-is-a-crime-i-want-to-be-the-most-wanted-criminal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always wanted to be a criminal, but not this big a one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-starkweather/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-criminal-but-not-this-big-a-one/) [Charles Starkweather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-starkweather/) > [“The Republic's most wanted criminal is just a boy, sitting before me, suddenly vulnerable, laying all his weaknesses out for me to see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/the-republic-s-most-wanted-criminal-is-just-a-boy-sitting-before-me/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [If loving you was a crime, I would have been the most wanted criminal. (:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-loving-you-was-a-crime-i-would-have-been-the-most-wanted-criminal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do you know you are the MOST WANTED CRIMINAL for breaking my heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose/do-you-know-you-are-the-most-wanted-criminal-for-breaking-my-heart/) [MOSE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose/) > [“Not doing pictures these days?... How very Lunar of you." - Jacin "Very wanted criminal of me too." - Cinder”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/not-doing-pictures-these-days-how-very-lunar-of-you-jacin-very-wanted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“If there was empirical proof given tomorrow that there was a god, and I had no doubt that he existed, and he commanded me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-culliton-why-i-love-my-prozac/if-there-was-empirical-proof-given-tomorrow-that-there-was-a-god-and/) [Travis Culliton - "Why I love my Prozac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-culliton-why-i-love-my-prozac/) > [“I prayed as we walked up the hill. I prayed and felt a measure of calm return. No visions. No angels singing. But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-prayed-as-we-walked-up-the-hill-i-prayed-and-felt-a-measure-of-calm/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [For Man nothing is beyond doubt; for God everything is beyond doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/for-man-nothing-is-beyond-doubt-for-god-everything-is-beyond-doubt/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [I saw God! Do you doubt it? Do you dare to doubt it? I saw the Almighty Man! His hand Was resting on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kenneth-stephen/i-saw-god-do-you-doubt-it-do-you-dare-to-doubt-it-i-saw-the-almighty/) [James Kenneth Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kenneth-stephen/) > [If another name for God is I AM..so I doubt if there is anybody better than I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/if-another-name-for-god-is-i-am-so-i-doubt-if-there-is-anybody-better/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [When you rise up in faith knowing that God is with you and for you, all doubt and fear has to leave your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-rise-up-in-faith-knowing-that-god-is-with-you-and-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Faith talks in the language of God. Doubt talks in the language of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-kenyon/faith-talks-in-the-language-of-god-doubt-talks-in-the-language-of-man/) [E. W. Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-kenyon/) > [If I had not actually got into this work and been called of God, I would back out. But I cannot back out: I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/if-i-had-not-actually-got-into-this-work-and-been-called-of-god-i/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [If knowledge is my God, doubt would be my religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/if-knowledge-is-my-god-doubt-would-be-my-religion/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) ## More by Steve Toltz > [ “To my horror principles have wormed their way into \[the\] fabric of my being.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/to-my-horror-principles-have-wormed-their-way-into-the-fabric-of-my/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [I'm not sure if I always wanted to be a writer, but I was always writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/i-m-not-sure-if-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-writer-but-i-was-always/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [“The problem is most of the time when God’s supposed to be the hero, he comes across as the villain. I mean, look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/the-problem-is-most-of-the-time-when-god-s-supposed-to-be-the-hero-he/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [ \[I'll teach you\] how not to leave the windows of your heart open when it looks like rain and how everyone has a stump… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/i-ll-teach-you-how-not-to-leave-the-windows-of-your-heart-open-when/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [...I thought how I hate any kind of mob - I hate mobs of sports fans, mobs of environmental demonstrators, I even hate mobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/i-thought-how-i-hate-any-kind-of-mob-i-hate-mobs-of-sports-fans-mobs/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [I was in the hospital and I was paralyzed and I went through all of these things. I've had all of these crazy experiences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/i-was-in-the-hospital-and-i-was-paralyzed-and-i-went-through-all-of/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [Let’s not mince words: the inside of the Sydney casino looks as if Vegas had an illegitimate child with Liberace’s underpants, and that child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/let-s-not-mince-words-the-inside-of-the-sydney-casino-looks-as-if/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [Optimism isn't funny unless you are laughing at the person, whereas extreme pessimism is extremely funny. It's exaggeration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/optimism-isn-t-funny-unless-you-are-laughing-at-the-person-whereas/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [There's nothing perplexing to me about a leafy shrub evolving out of the big bang, but that the post office exists because carbon exploded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/there-s-nothing-perplexing-to-me-about-a-leafy-shrub-evolving-out-of/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [The game is an analogy for life: there are not enough chairs or good times to go around, not enough food, not enough joy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/the-game-is-an-analogy-for-life-there-are-not-enough-chairs-or-good/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [“Don't touch me, you fat ghost!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/don-t-touch-me-you-fat-ghost/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [Raymond Chandler I love a lot, and the Austrian writer Thomas Bernhard. I really love his voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/raymond-chandler-i-love-a-lot-and-the-austrian-writer-thomas-bernhard/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [The universe doesn't really care if you bounce back. It doesn't feel that weird to write about paralysis or being in hospital or losing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/the-universe-doesn-t-really-care-if-you-bounce-back-it-doesn-t-feel/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [“The world's not falling apart imperceptibly anymore, these days it makes a loud shredding noise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/the-world-s-not-falling-apart-imperceptibly-anymore-these-days-it/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [“Sex: the match that sets off human firework.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/sex-the-match-that-sets-off-human-firework/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) [Explore all 119 Steve Toltz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [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/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If there is a God, I doubt he is such a hard-liner. Rather, I imagine him greeting the men and women who take their own lives like a police chief surprised when a wanted criminal turns himself in. “You!” he might say, not angry so much as slightly disappointed that he won’t get the credit or the satisfaction for the capture.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Toltz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/if-there-is-a-god-i-doubt-he-is-such-a-hard-liner-rather-i-imagine/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/if-there-is-a-god-i-doubt-he-is-such-a-hard-liner-rather-i-imagine/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/steve-toltz-3783_god_if-there-is-a-god-i-doubt-he-is-such-a-h_2248984.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/steve-toltz-3783_god_if-there-is-a-god-i-doubt-he-is-such-a-h_2248984.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/steve-toltz-3783_god_if-there-is-a-god-i-doubt-he-is-such-a-h_2248984.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there is a God, I doubt he is such a hard-liner. Rather, I imagine him greeting the men and women who…” — Steve Toltz", "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": "Steve Toltz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If there is a God, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/if-there-is-a-god-i-doubt-he-is-such-a-hard-liner-rather-i-imagine/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/if-there-is-a-god-i-doubt-he-is-such-a-hard-liner-rather-i-imagine/#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 } } ] } ```