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God was invented to explain mystery. God is always invented to explain those things that you do not understand. Now, when you finally discover how something works, you get some laws which you're taking away from God; you don't need him anymore. But you need him for the other mysteries. So therefore you leave him to create the universe because we haven't figured that out yet; you need him for understanding those things which you don't believe the laws will explain, such as consciousness, or why you only live to a certain length of time - life and death - stuff like that. God is always associated with those things that you do not understand. Therefore I don't think that the laws can be considered to be like God because they have been figured out.

Richard Feynman#20

ScienceReligionMysteryGod

About this quote

What does it mean?
God is used to explain the unknown, but science reduces these mysteries.
In plain terms
Science replaces gods by explaining natural laws.
What can you take from it?
Seek natural explanations for mysteries.

Where it applies

  • philosophy
  • education
  • personal belief

Putting it to work

  • study physics
  • reject superstition
  • embrace curiosity

Questions to consider

  • What mysteries do you still explain with faith?
  • How does science change your view of God?

Another view

Some mysteries may remain beyond scientific reach.

More from Richard Feynman

  1. A poet once said 'The whole universe is in a glass of wine.' We will probably never know in what sense he meant that, for poets do not write to be understood. …

    Permalink to quote #19
  2. What I cannot create, I do not understand.

    Permalink to quote #21
  3. I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics.

    Permalink to quote #18

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