Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker argues that religious claims imply physical differences in the universe, making them scientific in nature.
In plain terms
If God existed, the universe would look different, so religion makes scientific claims.
What can you take from it?
Religious claims can be tested by observing the universe.

Where it applies

  • debate
  • philosophy of science
  • theology

Putting it to work

  • critical thinking
  • science literacy
  • theological analysis

Questions to consider

  • Can beliefs be tested?
  • What makes a claim scientific?

Another view

Religion may make claims outside physical observation.

More from Richard Dawkins

  1. I suspect that today if you asked people to justify their belief in God, the dominant reason would be scientific. Most people, I believe, think that you need a…

    Permalink to quote #94
  2. The trouble is that God in this sophisticated, physicist's sense bears no resemblance to the God of the Bible or any other religion. If a physicist says God is…

    Permalink to quote #96
  3. Religious people split into three main groups when faced with science. I shall label them the 'know-nothings', the 'know-alls', and the 'no-contests'.

    Permalink to quote #93

Related quotes

  1. 'The exploration of both the micro and the macro cosmos, is a song to God's glory, which is reflected in everything in the universe.'

    John Paul II (Pope)John Paul II (Pope) quote #11
  2. I'm not an atheist and I don't think I can call myself a pantheist. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many …

    Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein quote #19
  3. An outlook through this peephole [that manned space flight had opened] at the vast mysteries of the universe should only confirm our belief in the certainty of…

    Wernher von BraunWernher von Braun quote #26