Simone Weil on Atheism
1909–1943 France
← All quotes by Simone Weil
8 quotes
Among those in whom the supernatural part of themselves has not been awakened, the atheists are right and the believers wrong.
Every atheist is an idolater — unless he is worshipping the true God in his impersonal aspect. The majority of the pious are idolaters.
Last Notebook (1942)
There are two atheisms of which one is a purification of the notion of God.
The New Christianity (1967)
Religion in so far as it is a source of consolation is a hindrance to true faith; and in this sense atheism is a purification.
One of the most exquisite pleasures of human love — to serve the loved one without his knowing it — is only possible, as regards the love of God, through atheism.
Last Notebook (1942)
In order to obey God, one must receive his commands. How did it happen that I received them in adolescence, while I was professing atheism? To believe that the desire for good is always fulfilled — that is faith, and whoever has it is not an atheist.
Last Notebook (1942)
No human being escapes the necessity of conceiving some good outside himself towards which his thought turns in a movement of desire, supplication, and hope. consequently, the only choice is between worshipping the true God or an idol. Every atheist is an idolater — unless he is worshipping the true God in his impersonal aspect. The majority of the pious are idolaters.
Last Notebook (1942)
As in the West, the word God, taken in its usual meaning, signifies a Person, men whose attention, faith and love are almost exclusively concentrated on the impersonal aspect of God can actually believe themselves and declare themselves to be atheists, even though supernatural love inhabits their souls.