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To say that God made the universe gives us no explanation of the beginnings of things. If we are told that God made the universe, the question immediately arises: Who made God? Did he always exist, or was there some power back of that? Did he create matter out of nothing, or is his existence coextensive with matter? The problem is still there. What is the origin of it all? If, on the other hand, one says that the universe was not made by God, that it always existed, he has the same difficulty to confront. To say that the universe was here last year, or millions of years ago, does not explain its origin. This is still a mystery. As to the question of the origin of things, man can only wonder and doubt and guess.

Clarence Darrow#40

LifeBeliefPhilosophyOriginTheologyUniverse

About this quote

What does it mean?
Explaining the universe with God creates the same origin problem it seeks to solve.
In plain terms
Saying God made everything just moves the question back to who made God.
What can you take from it?
Origin questions remain mysterious regardless of the explanation.

Where it applies

  • theological debate
  • existential inquiry
  • education

Putting it to work

  • accept uncertainty
  • avoid circular reasoning

Questions to consider

  • Does every cause need a creator?
  • Is mystery acceptable?

Another view

Some find this reasoning dismissive of spiritual experiences.

More from Clarence Darrow

  1. I am an agnostic as to the question of God. I think that it is impossible for the human mind to believe in an object or thing unless it can form a mental pictu…

    Permalink to quote #39
  2. Many Christians base the belief of a soul and God upon the Bible. Strictly speaking, there is no such book. To make the Bible, sixty-six books are bound into o…

    Permalink to quote #41
  3. An agnostic is a doubter. The word is generally applied to those who doubt the verity of accepted religious creeds of faiths. Everyone is an agnostic as to the…

    Permalink to quote #38

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