Einstein's God

[DialecticMaterialist]

Found an interesting article on the Skeptic Society's website that suggests Einstein was an agnostic. Of course this doesn't prove anything about the truth or falsehood of God, I just found the notion of Einstein's religion very interesting as there are so many contradictory accounts.


The article is here:

http://skeptic.com/archives50.html

Some excerpts:

We all know Albert Einstein as the most famous scientist of the 20th century, and many know him as a great humanist. Some have also viewed him as religious. Indeed, in Einstein'a writings there is well-known reference to God and discussion of religion (1949, 1954). Although Einstein stated he was religious and that he believed in God, it was in his own specialized sense that he used these terms. Many are aware that Einstein was not religious in the conventional sense, but it will come as a surprise to some to learn that Einstein clearly identified himself as an atheist and as an agnostic. If one understands how Einstein used the terms religion, God, atheism, and agnosticism, it is clear that he was consistent in his beliefs.


and:


Combining key elements from the first and second response from Einstein there is little doubt as to his position: "From the viewpoint of a Jesuit priest I am, of course, and have always been an atheist.... I have repeatedly said that in my opinion the idea of a personal God is a childlike one. You may call me an agnostic, but I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional atheist whose fervor is mostly due to a painful act of liberation from the fetters of religious indoctrination received in youth. I prefer an attitude of humility corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and of our being."



I also found the following quote from Einstein interesting:


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.


http://atheisme.ca/citations/cit_en_Einstein.html

[Corey]

A few quotes on the subject, from Einstein himself. Pulled from positiveatheism.org, wisdomquotes.com, quotes.prolix.nu and ic.net/~erasmus



I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own -- a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotisms.

-- obituary in New York Times, 19 April 1955


A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.
-- "Religion and Science," New York Times Magazine, 9 November 1930


What is the meaning of human life, or of organic life altogether? To answer this question at all implies a religion. Is there any sense then, you ask, in putting it? I answer, the man who regards his own life and that of his fellow creatures as meaningless is not merely unfortunate but almost disqualified for life.

-- The World as I See It, 1934


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.

-- 1954, from Albert Einstein: The Human Side


I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the harmony of all that exists, but not in a God who concerns himself with the fate and actions of human beings.

-- (Calaprice, ibid., 204 / Telegram to a Jewish nespaper, 1929. Einstein Archive 33-272)


(similar quote, but with a bit more ellaboration)

My religiosity consists of a humble admiration of the infinitely superior spirit that reveals itself in the little that we can comprehend about the knowable world. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God.

--(Calaprice, ibid., 204 / To a banker in Colorado, 1927. Einstein Archive 48-380; also quoted in Dukas and Hoffmann, Albert Einstein, the Human Side, 66, and in the New York Times obituary, April 19, 1955)




I think you can pull from these an overall view of Einstein's opinion on the subject in it's most general form. He believed there was an intelligence and structure to the universe, which could be considered a "God", but atrributed no personal connection, inherent morality/ethics or specific conscious behavior to it. You could probably sum it up with a quote from Woody Allen (from Sleeper)...with a touch of humor:


"I'm what you'd call a teleological existential atheist. I believe that there's an intelligence to the universe with the exception of certain parts of New Jersey"

[lifegazer]

Sounds to me as though Einstein had a touch of the buddha in him.

[Pahansiri]

Originally posted by lifegazer
Sounds to me as though Einstein had a touch of the buddha in him.

"The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. The religion which based on experience, which refuses dogmatic. If there's any religion that would cope the scientific needs it will be Buddhism...." Albert Einstein

“Albert Einstein quote: “If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism.”

'Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural & spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity' – Einstein”


"If I’m compelled to select a world religion or an international religion, I would select Buddhism." We must examine the profundity of his statement and work together in harmony, for nowadays even the learned scholars of the East remain unaware of this. That is why I must emphasize the whole system of Buddhist philosophy. Einstein

"The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. The religion which based on experience, which refuses dogmatic. If there's any religion that would cope the scientific needs it will be Buddhism...."

http://www.integralscience.org/einsteinbuddha/

[lifegazer]

Interesting, since I was guessing.
Doesn't mean that he was talking sense of course. ;)

[Pahansiri]

Originally posted by lifegazer
Interesting, since I was guessing.
Doesn't mean that he was talking sense of course. ;)

I understand it is clear that logic, facts etc are all confusing, to you..;)

[Igopogo]

WOW, Dialectic, that's great stuff! I especially like,

"You may call me an agnostic, but I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional atheist whose fervor is mostly due to a painful act of liberation from the fetters of religious indoctrination received in youth. I prefer an attitude of humility corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and of our being."

That exactly sums up my thoughts after coming here as an outsider and reading many posts. This Einstein guy is going places.

[wayrad]

Interesting quotes. When I look at the dates there seems to be a temporal progression from something like deism to a more agnostic/atheistic viewpoint.

[c4ts]

Einstein was Jewish! That's why a Jesuit priest would call him an atheist!

[T'ai Chi]

Einstein was one of the smartest people ever and changed the world in many ways. Therefore, many groups want to claim him as their own to further their own agenda. :)

In my opinion, he's a deist, a mystic, a naturalist, scientific Buddhist, or some combination.

[Pahansiri]

Originally posted by T'ai Chi
Einstein was one of the smartest people ever and changed the world in many ways. Therefore, many groups want to claim him as their own to further their own agenda. :)

In my opinion, he's a deist, a mystic, a naturalist, scientific Buddhist, or some combination.

Greetings T'ai Chi.

I agree mainly agree with your statement. My posting of his words was just posting of his words. I have no agenda and was simply doing what is done at a discussion board. You may have not been speaking about me or my post and if you were I respect your opinion.

I as Buddhism does/do not seek to convince anyone to become Buddhist or believe anything other then what they do. If I had the power to change anyone ( which I do not) it would be to “make” people have for themselves and all living things loving kindness, respect and compassion and keep believing what ever else they desire for in reality it is only loving kindness, respect and compassion that most matters and can ease suffering.

I will leave one more quote by Einstein as to religion.


"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."
[Albert Einstein, 1954, from "Albert Einstein: The Human Side", edited by Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman, Princeton
University Press]


Be well my friend