“I don’t believe in God but I’m very interested in her.”
- December 16, 1917 – March 19, 2008
- British
- Science Fiction Writer, Futurist, Inventor, Author of 2001: A Space Odyssey
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Quote
“I don’t believe in God but I’m very interested in her.”
Explanation
This quote is a provocative and playful expression of curiosity about religion and the divine, attributed to Arthur C. Clarke. By saying “I don’t believe in God”, Clarke affirms his atheism or at least a strong skepticism toward traditional theism. However, the second half—“but I’m very interested in her”—demonstrates an enduring fascination with the concept of God, not as a personal deity, but perhaps as a cultural, philosophical, or even symbolic idea. The use of “her” subverts typical patriarchal imagery of God, further highlighting Clarke’s intention to challenge conventional thinking.
Clarke lived during a time of immense scientific progress, which he often saw as replacing or surpassing religious explanations of the universe. However, he never dismissed religion entirely; instead, he recognized its profound impact on human civilization, myth, and imagination. His choice to refer to God as “her” may have also been a subtle commentary on the need for diversity in thought and a broader re-examination of how we anthropomorphize abstract concepts like divinity.
Today, the quote resonates with many who identify as spiritual but not religious, or with those who are nonbelievers yet intrigued by the role of religion in history, psychology, and ethics. It also appeals to readers who appreciate irony and intellectual openness. In essence, Clarke acknowledges that you can reject belief while still valuing the questions that belief inspires.
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