--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have never seen the slightest…" description: "\"I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious ideas of heaven and hell, of future life for individuals, or of a personal God.\" — Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/thomas-a-edison-866_afterlife_i-have-never-seen-the-slightest-scientif_1169020.jpg" --- # I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the… ![“I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious ideas of heaven and hell, of future life for individuals, or of a personal God.” quote by Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/thomas-a-edison-866_afterlife_i-have-never-seen-the-slightest-scientif_1169020.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/thomas-a-edison-866_afterlife_i-have-never-seen-the-slightest-scientif_1169020.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/thomas-a-edison-866_afterlife_i-have-never-seen-the-slightest-scientif_1169020.jpg) > “I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious ideas of heaven and hell, of future life for individuals, or of a personal God.” [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. No empirical evidence supports concepts of afterlife or personal deity; belief lacks scientific proof. **In simple terms:** No proof of heaven, hell, or God. Key Takeaway Seek evidence over faith. Themes science faith skepticism belief Mood skeptical inquisitive Type philosophical quotational When to use this quote - personal belief - public policy - ethical decisions Key Concepts empiricism philosophy of religion epistemology Questions to Reflect On - Is belief without evidence rational? - How do you reconcile faith and science? A Different Perspective Scientific proof may be unattainable for metaphysical claims. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afterlife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afterlife/) [Agnostic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agnostic/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Atheistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheistic/) [Bunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bunk/) [Christian atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-atheist/) [Evidence of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence-of-god/) [Future life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-life/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heaven and hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-hell/) [Heaven hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-hell/) [Heaven or hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-or-hell/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [If there is a god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/if-there-is-a-god/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Personal God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-god-312350/) [Philosophy and religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-and-religion/) [Philosophy of religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-religion/) [Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof/) [Proof of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof-of-god/) [Proof Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof-religious-1116499/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-god/) [Religion in society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-in-society/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-ideas-284602/) [Religious philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-philosophy/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Theism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theism/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [There being no god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/there-being-no-god/) [There is no god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/there-is-no-god/) [Thinking god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-god/) ## Related quotes > [I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious theories of heaven and hell, of future life for individuals, or of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-have-never-seen-the-slightest-scientific-proof-of-the-religious/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [If I were not an atheist, I would believe in a God who would choose to save people on the basis of the totality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/if-i-were-not-an-atheist-i-would-believe-in-a-god-who-would-choose-to/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [The God of the Old testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-god-of-the-old-testament-is-arguably-the-most-unpleasant-2/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-happiness-of-credulity-is-a-cheap-and-dangerous-quality/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/is-he-able-but-not-willing-then-he-is-malevolent/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/with-or-without-religion-you-would-have-good-people-doing-good-things/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [For good people to do evil things, it takes religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/for-good-people-to-do-evil-things-it-takes-religion/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/is-he-neither-able-nor-willing-then-why-call-him-god/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Men may believe what they cannot prove. They may not be put to the proof of their religious doctrines or beliefs. Religious experiences which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/men-may-believe-what-they-cannot-prove-they-may-not-be-put-to-the/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [As we survey all the evidence, the thought insistently arises that some supernatural agency-or, rather, Agency-must be involved. Is it possible that suddenly, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-greenstein/as-we-survey-all-the-evidence-the-thought-insistently-arises-that/) [George Greenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-greenstein/) > [Atheists who keep asking for evidence of God's existence are like a fish in the ocean wanting evidence of water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/atheists-who-keep-asking-for-evidence-of-god-s-existence-are-like-a/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [As a gardener, I'm among those who believe that much of the evidence of God's existence has been planted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/as-a-gardener-i-m-among-those-who-believe-that-much-of-the-evidence/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [If we had absolute proof instead of clues, then you could no more deny God than you could deny the sun. If we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/if-we-had-absolute-proof-instead-of-clues-then-you-could-no-more-deny/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Christians have learned that when there seems to be no other evidence of God's love, they cannot escape the cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/christians-have-learned-that-when-there-seems-to-be-no-other-evidence/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [The evidence of God exists in the roundness of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/the-evidence-of-god-exists-in-the-roundness-of-things/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) ## More by Thomas A. Edison > [We are striking it big in the electric light, better than my vivid imagination first conceived. Where this thing is going to stop Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/we-are-striking-it-big-in-the-electric-light-better-than-my-vivid/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I will not say I failed 1000 times, I will say that I discovered there are 1000 ways that can cause failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-will-not-say-i-failed-1000-times-i-will-say-that-i-discovered-there/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Friendship is the heaven of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/friendship-is-the-heaven-of-life/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Even though I am nearly deaf, I seem to be gifted with a kind of inner hearing which enables me to detect sounds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/even-though-i-am-nearly-deaf-i-seem-to-be-gifted-with-a-kind-of-inner/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/being-busy-does-not-always-mean-real-work-the-object-of-all-work-is/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [The very first thing an executive must have is a fine memory. Of course it does not follow that a man with a fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-very-first-thing-an-executive-must-have-is-a-fine-memory-of/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Personally, I enjoy working about 18 hours a day. Besides the short catnaps I take each day, I average about four to five hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/personally-i-enjoy-working-about-18-hours-a-day-besides-the-short/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [The brain can be developed just the same as the muscles can be developed, if on will only take the pains to train the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-brain-can-be-developed-just-the-same-as-the-muscles-can-be/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“People who will not turn a shovel full of dirt on the project nor contribute a pound of material, will collect more money from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/people-who-will-not-turn-a-shovel-full-of-dirt-on-the-project-nor/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [When I have fully decided that a result is worth getting I go ahead of it and make trial after trial until it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/when-i-have-fully-decided-that-a-result-is-worth-getting-i-go-ahead/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I remember that I was never able to get along at school. I was at the foot of the class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-remember-that-i-was-never-able-to-get-along-at-school-i-was-at-the/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Invention is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/invention-is-10-inspiration-and-90-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [There seems to be no limit to which some men will go to avoid the labor of thinking. Thinking is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/there-seems-to-be-no-limit-to-which-some-men-will-go-to-avoid-the/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Somewhere between the ages of eleven and fifteen, the average child begins to suffer from an atrophy, the paralysis of curiosity and the suspension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/somewhere-between-the-ages-of-eleven-and-fifteen-the-average-child/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Not only will atomic power be released, but someday we will harness the rise and fall of the tides and imprison the rays of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/not-only-will-atomic-power-be-released-but-someday-we-will-harness/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) [Explore all 345 Thomas A. Edison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) ## More Afterlife quotes > [I don't believe in an afterlife. I don't believe in a single or multiple godhead. I respect people who do, but I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-don-t-believe-in-an-afterlife-i-don-t-believe-in-a-single-or/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“There was no attack on religion because people were generally indifferent to religion. They were neither hot nor cold. They were the tepid, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/there-was-no-attack-on-religion-because-people-were-generally/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [I guess on one hand I believe it doesn't matter if there is life after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-guess-on-one-hand-i-believe-it-doesn-t-matter-if-there-is-life/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [“And what if there are only spiders there, or something of that sort”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/and-what-if-there-are-only-spiders-there-or-something-of-that-sort/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“The obsession with the afterlife is born of a panic at not having memories of a before-life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/the-obsession-with-the-afterlife-is-born-of-a-panic-at-not-having/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [... the man in the violent situation reveals those qualities least dispensable in his personality, those qualities which are all he will have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/the-man-in-the-violent-situation-reveals-those-qualities-least/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [“Most people would probably call me a ghost. I am, after all, dead. But I don't think of myself that way. It wasn't so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-pike/most-people-would-probably-call-me-a-ghost-i-am-after-all-dead-but-i/) [Christopher Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-pike/) > [If critics and fanboys weren't suckers for simplistic nihilism and high-pressure marketing, Afterlife would be universally acclaimed as a visionary feat, superior to Inception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armond-white/if-critics-and-fanboys-weren-t-suckers-for-simplistic-nihilism-and/) [Armond White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armond-white/) > [“People, I thought, wanted security. They couldn’t bare the idea of death being a big black nothing, couldn’t bear the thought of their loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/people-i-thought-wanted-security-they-couldn-t-bare-the-idea-of-death/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Some people are so stiff and inhumane as the dogma's they believe in”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/some-people-are-so-stiff-and-inhumane-as-the-dogma-s-they-believe-in/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Sometimes I think the resurrection of the body, unless much improved in construction, a mistake!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/sometimes-i-think-the-resurrection-of-the-body-unless-much-improved/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [It's my firm conclusion that human meaning comes from humans, not from a supernatural source. After we die, our hopes for an afterlife reside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/it-s-my-firm-conclusion-that-human-meaning-comes-from-humans-not-from/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [“One's past can't be erased, it can only be learned from, the child taught her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-balcomb/one-s-past-can-t-be-erased-it-can-only-be-learned-from-the-child/) [H. L. Balcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-balcomb/) > [It was like I’d stepped out into an afterlife. Only there were no angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-christopher/it-was-like-i-d-stepped-out-into-an-afterlife-only-there-were-no/) [Lucy Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-christopher/) > [“death is predestined for all mortals. Souls live forever, but the body does not. Unless you are immortal, both the soul and body are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yelle-hughes/death-is-predestined-for-all-mortals-souls-live-forever-but-the-body/) [Yelle Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yelle-hughes/) [Browse all 844 Afterlife quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afterlife/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious ideas of heaven and hell, of future life for individuals, or of a personal God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas A. 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