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Even Einstein Beleived In A God

rhinefire

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I would not read below as Einstein believing in "religion" rather only in a God as a creator. I might go as far as to say the God he speaks of might not be holy or religious. That's my two cents on this, what's yours?


Einstein is probably the best known and most highly revered scientist of the twentieth century, and is associated with major revolutions in our thinking about time, gravity, and the conversion of matter to energy (E=mc[SUP]2[/SUP]). Although never coming to belief in a personal God, he recognized the impossibility of a non-created universe. The Encyclopedia Britannica says of him: "Firmly denying atheism, Einstein expressed a belief in "Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the harmony of what exists." This actually motivated his interest in science, as he once remarked to a young physicist: "I want to know how God created this world, I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts, the rest are details." Einstein's famous epithet on the "uncertainty principle" was "God does not play dice" - and to him this was a real statement about a God in whom he believed. A famous saying of his was "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."
 
Cool thread. I read that quote by Einstein in college in the early 80s and it's the one view of God that resonated with me.
 
I would not read below as Einstein believing in "religion" rather only in a God as a creator. I might go as far as to say the God he speaks of might not be holy or religious. That's my two cents on this, what's yours?


Einstein is probably the best known and most highly revered scientist of the twentieth century, and is associated with major revolutions in our thinking about time, gravity, and the conversion of matter to energy (E=mc[SUP]2[/SUP]). Although never coming to belief in a personal God, he recognized the impossibility of a non-created universe. The Encyclopedia Britannica says of him: "Firmly denying atheism, Einstein expressed a belief in "Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the harmony of what exists." This actually motivated his interest in science, as he once remarked to a young physicist: "I want to know how God created this world, I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts, the rest are details." Einstein's famous epithet on the "uncertainty principle" was "God does not play dice" - and to him this was a real statement about a God in whom he believed. A famous saying of his was "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."

The final quote, I believe one of our very own members has that as a signature.

Anyways, Einstein denying atheism isn't anything too shocking.
 
The question always ends up being "What's behind the curtain?" The curtain being where science ends, and what we don't know begins. I think there is a underlying order in the "chaotic" universe.
 
Attempts to use religion to explain the physical only detracts from its legitimate purpose which is to establish morality. When religious "law" conflicts with scientific "law", whether it be that the Earth is the center of the world or that evolution (change) does not naturally occur, it only seems to make all such religious teachings suspect. Do not question how what is came to be but question how what is can be better understood and that knowledge can be used for the good of all.
 
Cool thread. I read that quote by Einstein in college in the early 80s and it's the one view of God that resonated with me.
I do agree,and his god is what I call nature, as for a created existence, again is the question of "How far is up" and "who or what created the creator" His unanswered questions also. however, I don't always agree, even with Einstein
 
We all make mistakes.
 
I would not read below as Einstein believing in "religion" rather only in a God as a creator. I might go as far as to say the God he speaks of might not be holy or religious. That's my two cents on this, what's yours?
Why should Einstein's opinions on religion matter?
 
Why should Einstein's opinions on religion matter?

Because when there are no facts opinions are all WE have!! If there is a room with ten people and all have opinions, what is the truth?
 
Because when there are no facts opinions are all WE have!! If there is a room with ten people and all have opinions, what is the truth?

That depends upon the subject under discussion. If only one is of the opinion that the Moon is made of cheese then we know where the truth lies.
 
Because when there are no facts opinions are all WE have!!
Uh, okay.... But again, why should Einstein's opinions on religion matter?

He was a physicists, not a philosopher or theologian. His opinions may be of interest to some people, but they're not authoritative. (There are also quite a few religious physicists.)

Should we all adopt Judaism because that was his religion? He was also a socialist; should we gleefully distribute his political opinions, too?
 
I think Einstein's own words in letters to friends and collegues puts it most clearly his stand on this matter. One of which I cite here.

"It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it." From the book, Albert Einstein, the Human Side, by Helen Dukas.

If anything, Einstein believed in an order to the Universe, which many expound upon today in noetic sciences.
 
Uh, okay.... But again, why should Einstein's opinions on religion matter?

He was a physicists, not a philosopher or theologian. His opinions may be of interest to some people, but they're not authoritative. (There are also quite a few religious physicists.)

Should we all adopt Judaism because that was his religion? He was also a socialist; should we gleefully distribute his political opinions, too?

He was an adulterer too, so he didn't pay any attention to god.
 
Uh, okay.... But again, why should Einstein's opinions on religion matter?

He was a physicists, not a philosopher or theologian. His opinions may be of interest to some people, but they're not authoritative. (There are also quite a few religious physicists.)

Should we all adopt Judaism because that was his religion? He was also a socialist; should we gleefully distribute his political opinions, too?
Why should the opinon of a world leader matter on religion. Einstein was a book keeper first.
 
He was an adulterer too, so he didn't pay any attention to god.

Most of your adulterers (and swindlers)are preachers, Jimmy Swaggert and Jim Baker simply got caught.
 
That depends upon the subject under discussion. If only one is of the opinion that the Moon is made of cheese then we know where the truth lies.

No, you see the subject matter does not apply here.
 
Uh, okay.... But again, why should Einstein's opinions on religion matter?

He was a physicists, not a philosopher or theologian. His opinions may be of interest to some people, but they're not authoritative. (There are also quite a few religious physicists.)

Should we all adopt Judaism because that was his religion? He was also a socialist; should we gleefully distribute his political opinions, too?
Einstein abandoned religion at very young age and focused at sience, he had been condemned by jews leaders all around the world (for being atheist, even thogh he believed in different kind of God)
 
Uh, okay.... But again, why should Einstein's opinions on religion matter?

He was a physicists, not a philosopher or theologian. His opinions may be of interest to some people, but they're not authoritative. (There are also quite a few religious physicists.)

Should we all adopt Judaism because that was his religion? He was also a socialist; should we gleefully distribute his political opinions, too?

The first wouldn't be a bad idea to look at, but it would not be a good match for most people.. the second, well yes.. you should.
 
Why should the opinon of a world leader matter on religion. Einstein was a book keeper first.
....?

Einstein was a physicist, and a brilliant one. That doesn't mean there is any particular reason to credit his religious views any differently than anyone else's.

Or, as I said: Do you plan to adopt Judaism, because Einstein was Jewish? Or socialism, as he was a socialist?
 
"..The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human Weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still Primitive Legends which are nevertheless pretty Childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this."These [...] interpretations are highly manifold according to their nature and have almost nothing to do with the original text. For me the Jewish religion like All other religions is an incarnation of the most Childish Superstitions.".."

- Einstein letter to Gutkind, 1954

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2008/may/13/peopleinscience.religion
 
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Religions and the religious tend to be obsessed with authority and either the submission to or the acquisition of it; leading to power and wealth of course.

Religious tactics - I will assume that other people have the same reverence for authority as I do so, if I say that a figure that I perceive to be an authority for them agrees with me then I have them because if they can't trust them on that how can they trust their science? Another alternative is to find some disagreeable fact about the perceived authority in order to undermine them.
Usual outcome? Most of the quote mines and ad hominems can be dismissed with a simple search for context and the thrust of the attack dismissed on the basis that outside of their specialist field, these people have no more authority on any subject than Forrest Gump.
 
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