With this post, you have succinctly stated the truth about Einstein’s views, which changed somewhat during his life, but essentially could be characterized as Spinoza-Lite. The religious people hear who want to claim Einstein as one of their own obviously have not read his writings. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what Einstein thought about religion. Some brilliant people have believed in the supernatural, and some have not. The more honest believers admitted their belief was not rational (a la Kierkegaard). The intellectually dishonest ones pretend to “know” that a god exists, or even that a god’s existence can be proven. Those who feel compelled to believe in the unprovable like to cling to the notion that someone like Einstein knew something others don’t. As an agnostic, I appreciate that Einstein felt humbled by the magnificence of the universe but that he saw no need to explain it by referring to mythological ancient literature.
Isaac Asimov was also a compassionate atheist. He changed from calling himself an agnostic to an atheist late in life and admitted that it was an act of faith to claim without proof that god did not exist. He, however had great respect for thebeliefs of others and awe at the wonder of the univers. He also wrote one of the best guides to the Bible any preacher could ever use.
My problem with the original post was that it says atheists are lousy debaters. It is patently a lie. It is simply impossible to win a debate on religion, because the religious won’t follow the rules of debate. Even D’souza only claims a draw. Assimov would have torn D’souza to pieces in a debate, but he would have seen it as pointless. Let them believe in ghosties and ghoulies and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night.