--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Atheists themselves used to be very…" description: "\"Atheists themselves used to be very comfortable in maintaining that the universe is eternal and uncaused. The problem is that they can no longer hold t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/william-lane-craig-8716_atheist_atheists-themselves-used-to-be-very-comf_2504080.jpg" --- # Atheists themselves used to be very comfortable in… ![“Atheists themselves used to be very comfortable in maintaining that the universe is eternal and uncaused. The problem is that they can no longer hold that position because modern evidence that the universe started with the Big Bang. So they can't legitimately object when I make the same claim…” quote by William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/william-lane-craig-8716_atheist_atheists-themselves-used-to-be-very-comf_2504080.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/william-lane-craig-8716_atheist_atheists-themselves-used-to-be-very-comf_2504080.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/william-lane-craig-8716_atheist_atheists-themselves-used-to-be-very-comf_2504080.jpg) > “Atheists themselves used to be very comfortable in maintaining that the universe is eternal and uncaused. The problem is that they can no longer hold that position because modern evidence that the universe started with the Big Bang. So they can't legitimately object when I make the same claim about God - he is eternal and he is uncaused.” [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The claim argues that atheists once held the universe as eternal, but modern evidence of a beginning undermines that, so they cannot object to the claim that God is eternal and uncaused. **In simple terms:** Science shows a universe beginning; the argument mirrors that for God. Key Takeaway Use evidence to challenge assumptions. Themes philosophy theology science debate Mood thoughtful critical Type argumentative analytical When to use this quote - academic lectures - public debates - religious discussions - science education Key Concepts cosmology causality eternal uncaused Questions to Reflect On - Does a universe beginning imply a cause? - Can eternity be proven scientifically? A Different Perspective The argument may conflate scientific and metaphysical claims. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Atheists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheists/) [Atheists Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheists-used-546071/) [Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bangs/) [Big bang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-bang/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Claim God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claim-god-605837/) [Claims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claims/) [Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [God Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-eternal/) [Maintaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maintaining/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-eternal-876227/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Used to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-to-be/) ## Related quotes > [Neither give ear to the over-keen worshipers nor to the diehard atheists. They are both full of themselves and, therefore, they are used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/neither-give-ear-to-the-over-keen-worshipers-nor-to-the-diehard/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [Believers often forget that most atheists used to be religious, that many non-believers used to think they had a personal relationship with their God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/believers-often-forget-that-most-atheists-used-to-be-religious-that/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [“It is a moment, and it is eternity. It is the centre of the universe and it is the universe itself. The eternal light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-nesbit/it-is-a-moment-and-it-is-eternity-it-is-the-centre-of-the-universe/) [Edith Nesbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-nesbit/) > [“Dry logic also must be condemned. Another system declares that the universe is eternal, without beginning or end. It follows that the universe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-ramanananda/dry-logic-also-must-be-condemned-another-system-declares-that-the/) [Sri Ramanananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-ramanananda/) > [Saying the universe is eternal simply is saying that it has no beginning or end, not that it had a beginning an infinite time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/saying-the-universe-is-eternal-simply-is-saying-that-it-has-no/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [The reason why the universe is eternal is that it does not live for itself; it gives life to others as it transforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-reason-why-the-universe-is-eternal-is-that-it-does-not-live-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I read somewhere that radio waves just keep traveling outward, flying into the universe with eternal vibrations. Sometime before I die I think I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-keegan/i-read-somewhere-that-radio-waves-just-keep-traveling-outward-flying/) [Marina Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-keegan/) > [Om is the mysterious cosmic energy that is the substratum of all the things and all the being of the entire universe. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/om-is-the-mysterious-cosmic-energy-that-is-the-substratum-of-all-the/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [“Soak that in for a moment: the God of the universe, the all-eternal, always existent One, who spoke the world into existence, who makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-fox/soak-that-in-for-a-moment-the-god-of-the-universe-the-all-eternal/) [Christina Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-fox/) > [After all, is it not the way we humans shape the universe, shape time itself? Do we not take the raw stuff of chaos…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/after-all-is-it-not-the-way-we-humans-shape-the-universe-shape-time/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by William Lane Craig > [Part of the broader task of Christian scholarship is to help create and sustain a cultural milieu in which the gospel can be heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/part-of-the-broader-task-of-christian-scholarship-is-to-help-create/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [The point is this: If God does not exist, then life is objectively meaningless; but man cannot live consistently and happily knowing that life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/the-point-is-this-if-god-does-not-exist-then-life-is-objectively/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“By setting such strong, harsh dichotomies God taught Israel that any assimilation to pagan idolatry is intolerable. It was His way of preserving Israel’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/by-setting-such-strong-harsh-dichotomies-god-taught-israel-that-any/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [If you're sincerely seeking God, God will make His existence evident to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/if-you-re-sincerely-seeking-god-god-will-make-his-existence-evident/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [Scepticism, ironically, draws its life's blood from claims to have a good deal of knowledge. For example, your friends claim to know, 'Since every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/scepticism-ironically-draws-its-life-s-blood-from-claims-to-have-a/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“...if there's a supernatural agent that is working in the natural world, then the idealized conditions described by the law are no longer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/if-there-s-a-supernatural-agent-that-is-working-in-the-natural-world/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [If true love came at a price, the price would be all worth while if i was spending it on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/if-true-love-came-at-a-price-the-price-would-be-all-worth-while-if-i/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“There are various virtues of what counts as a best explanation, and I imagine familiarity is one of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/there-are-various-virtues-of-what-counts-as-a-best-explanation-and-i/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [People think of time as a continuum composed of points which is stretched out at a line, and even if you add a direction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/people-think-of-time-as-a-continuum-composed-of-points-which-is/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“...if God does not exist and there is no immortality, then all the evil acts of men go unpunished and all the sacrifices of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/if-god-does-not-exist-and-there-is-no-immortality-then-all-the-evil/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“So how do you find out what God thinks? The Christian says, you look in the Bible. And the Bible tells us that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/so-how-do-you-find-out-what-god-thinks-the-christian-says-you-look-in/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [So whom does God wrong in commanding the destruction of the Canaanites? Not the Canaanite adults, for they were corrupt and deserving of judgment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/so-whom-does-god-wrong-in-commanding-the-destruction-of-the/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [ Richard \[Carrier\] takes the extremist position that Jesus of Nazareth never even existed, that there was no such person in history. This is a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/richard-carrier-takes-the-extremist-position-that-jesus-of-nazareth/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [ I am an Orangeman first and a politician and member of this parliament \[Stormont\] afterwards. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/i-am-an-orangeman-first-and-a-politician-and-member-of-this/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [“In addition to these physical problems, sexually transmitted diseases are rampant among the homosexual population. 75% of homosexual men carry one or more sexually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/in-addition-to-these-physical-problems-sexually-transmitted-diseases/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) [Explore all 78 William Lane Craig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) ## More Atheist 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/) > [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/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [“The atheist joined his hands. It wasn't against the Gods. He smiled, with his hands folded, saw his daughter's in-laws approaching near.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/the-atheist-joined-his-hands-it-wasn-t-against-the-gods-he-smiled/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [An Atheist wandering down a road where he meets up a four road junction , he asks a passer by hey !, where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/an-atheist-wandering-down-a-road-where-he-meets-up-a-four-road/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am an atheist. I don't think there's anything divine. 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