How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
You are God. You want to make a forest, something to hold the soil, lock up solar energy, and give off oxygen. Wouldn't it be simpler just to rough in a slab of chemicals, a green acre of goo? (8.5)
Dillard questions why God would spend so much time on form when all that's necessary is function. The visible universe indicates to her that beauty matters to the creator.
Quote #8
But it could be that our faithlessness is a cowering cowardice born of our very smallness, a massive failure of imagination. (8.55)
If you don't believe in God, Dillard suggests, it could be because you lack the capacity to believe that a force bigger than yourself could love you.
Quote #9
The question from agnosticism is, Who turned on the lights? The question from faith is, Whatever for? (8.56)
In other words, if you don't have to concern yourself with science, you can concern yourself with philosophy. What you believe depends largely on which discipline you find more compelling.