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Belief in God 'childish,' Jews not chosen people: Einstein letter
BREITBART ^ | May 13, 2008

Posted on 05/13/2008 5:45:59 AM PDT by Alex Murphy

Albert Einstein described belief in God as "childish superstition" and said Jews were not the chosen people, in a letter to be sold in London this week, an auctioneer said Tuesday.

The father of relativity, whose previously known views on religion have been more ambivalent and fuelled much discussion, made the comments in response to a philosopher in 1954.

As a Jew himself, Einstein said he had a great affinity with Jewish people but said they "have no different quality for me than all other people".

"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," he wrote in the letter written on January 3, 1954 to the philosopher Eric Gutkind, cited by The Guardian newspaper.

The German-language letter is being sold Thursday by Bloomsbury Auctions in Mayfair after being in a private collection for more than 50 years, said the auction house's managing director Rupert Powell.

In it, the renowned scientist, who declined an invitation to become Israel's second president, rejected the idea that the Jews are God's chosen people.

"For me the Jewish religion like all others is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions," he said.

"And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people."

And he added: "As far as my experience goes, they are no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."

Previously the great scientist's comments on religion -- such as "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind" -- have been the subject of much debate, used notably to back up arguments in favour of faith.

Powell said the letter being sold this week gave a clear reflection of Einstein's real thoughts on the subject. "He's fairly unequivocal as to what he's saying. There's no beating about the bush," he told AFP.


TOPICS: Catholic; Judaism; Mainline Protestant; Religion & Science
KEYWORDS: alberteinstein; antitheism; einstein; whereisyourgodnow
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To: quadrant

Yes, but isn’t this knowledge of other questions, really just beliefs?


41 posted on 05/13/2008 9:13:51 AM PDT by stuartcr (Election year.....Who we gonna hate, in '08?)
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To: stuartcr
I know what the bible says, but I was asking why is the fear of God the beginning of wisdom?

Because a person like Einstein ends up being a fool no matter how worldly "smart" he seems. "what good is it to gain the world and lose your soul?"

42 posted on 05/13/2008 9:43:11 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (Obamafeld, "A CAMPAIGN ABOUT NOTHING".)
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To: Vaquero
I do NOT disbelieve in God....but I don't believe in yours.

I believe in the God of the bible, "the only true God and Jesus Christ who he has sent".

43 posted on 05/13/2008 9:52:21 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (Obamafeld, "A CAMPAIGN ABOUT NOTHING".)
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To: DungeonMaster

That really doesn’t explain why fearing God is the beginning of wisdom, but thanks.


44 posted on 05/13/2008 9:53:08 AM PDT by stuartcr (Election year.....Who we gonna hate, in '08?)
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To: DungeonMaster

well we will have to just disagree....

but I do like your Tagline.


45 posted on 05/13/2008 10:03:23 AM PDT by Vaquero (" an armed society is a polite society" Heinlein "MOLON LABE!" Leonidas of Sparta)
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To: stuartcr
That really doesn’t explain why fearing God is the beginning of wisdom, but thanks.

Is it the word fear that is bothering you? I know that really bothers a lot of people. That word is used a lot of times regarding feelings toward or worship of or belief in God.

This may be the first instance in the bible:

Genesis 20:11 And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.

46 posted on 05/13/2008 10:11:09 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (Obamafeld, "A CAMPAIGN ABOUT NOTHING".)
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To: Vaquero
well we will have to just disagree....

There are certainly many Christians that would see that and take it upon themselves to try to share the gospel with you. I suspect you already know it and have rejected it. I think most people already know the gospel and know what they have rejected.

47 posted on 05/13/2008 10:21:38 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (Obamafeld, "A CAMPAIGN ABOUT NOTHING".)
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To: stuartcr
Belief is the glue that holds universe and society together. If Einstein had not believed that the universe understandable, he would not have begun his investigations. If he had not believed that the US offered refuge, he might have remained in Europe.
48 posted on 05/13/2008 11:04:51 AM PDT by quadrant
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To: Alex Murphy

who does he think he is, Einstein????


49 posted on 05/13/2008 11:06:30 AM PDT by old-and-old
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To: weegee

>> Was this letter faxed from a Kinkos in Texas?

Actually, Einstein himself emailed it in 1954.


50 posted on 05/13/2008 11:09:33 AM PDT by old-and-old
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To: DungeonMaster

The word doesn’t bother me so much as I do not understand why anyone would fear God, and I really don’t understand how someone cannot be wise, without this fear.


51 posted on 05/13/2008 11:19:44 AM PDT by stuartcr (Election year.....Who we gonna hate, in '08?)
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To: quadrant

I’ll take that as a yes, thanks.


52 posted on 05/13/2008 11:21:44 AM PDT by stuartcr (Election year.....Who we gonna hate, in '08?)
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To: quadrant

I’ll take that as a yes, thanks.


53 posted on 05/13/2008 11:22:06 AM PDT by stuartcr (Election year.....Who we gonna hate, in '08?)
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To: stuartcr
Einstein had an extremely sophisticated view of mathematics and physics. He could speak with authority on those subjects, but his knowledge beyond those fields was limited, as many who knew him testify. In particular, his knowledge of religion was limited and his knowledge of history/politics all but nonexistent. He may have had strong opinions - beliefs, if you want - about these fields, but no reason exists why anyone should treat his utterances about God or politics with the same respect that one might treat his pronouncements on solid state physics. If his knowledge of God was limited, no information exists that Einstein make any attempt to learn about Him, not did the man claim a divine revelation that might give credence to his pronouncements.
54 posted on 05/13/2008 11:35:08 AM PDT by quadrant
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To: stuartcr
The word doesn’t bother me so much as I do not understand why anyone would fear God, and I really don’t understand how someone cannot be wise, without this fear.

So you prefer "believe in"?

55 posted on 05/13/2008 11:53:30 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (Obamafeld, "A CAMPAIGN ABOUT NOTHING".)
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To: quadrant

Knowledge of religion is nothing more than knowledge about religion, it does not really equate to knowledge about God. His beliefs were just as valid as anyone elses...until proven false.


56 posted on 05/13/2008 12:06:54 PM PDT by stuartcr (Election year.....Who we gonna hate, in '08?)
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To: DungeonMaster

Believing in God, is the same as fearing God?


57 posted on 05/13/2008 12:07:55 PM PDT by stuartcr (Election year.....Who we gonna hate, in '08?)
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To: stuartcr
Such postmodernism.
Knowledge of religion(s) is a scholarly endeavor. Knowledge about God is a theological endeavor. Knowledge of God is a personal and intimate relationship between the believer and the Divine. Einstein had no claim to any of the three ideas.
58 posted on 05/13/2008 12:11:07 PM PDT by quadrant
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To: reg45
[The Jews] were chosen by God to bring monotheism to the world and to express it in their culture.

Actually, Abraham and his physical descendents were chosen to bring to the world the seed by which all would be blessed - the Christ.

All else about the Jews is related to that purpose. Their history, culture and religion were all shadows which point to the reality found in Jesus Christ.

59 posted on 05/13/2008 12:20:05 PM PDT by sinatorhellary
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To: stuartcr
Believing in God, is the same as fearing God?

What does it seem to mean to you in the context of the verse I posted? Do you find that an odd verse?

60 posted on 05/13/2008 12:37:56 PM PDT by DungeonMaster (Obamafeld, "A CAMPAIGN ABOUT NOTHING".)
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