Originally posted by PinkFloydEinstein certainly didn't believe in your God. As Bosse de Nage has pointed out, any God would be more akin to Spinoza's God, which is more akin to "existence".
I think I can clear this up: Einstein believed in God. Devoutly so. At the expense of his own standing in the scientific community. "Religious" is nebulous, so let's stick to the concrete. The man flatly said "God does not play dice." Just who do you think was the subject of his quote--Max Planck?
Happily, (and coincidentally) an article was posted on RDnet about this today.
http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,2740,It-Doesnt-Take-an-Einstein,Michael-Weiss
Originally posted by scottishinnzI don't believe I said that Einstein believed in "my God". Of course his theology differs from mine; he was Jewish.
Einstein certainly didn't believe in your God. As Bosse de Nage has pointed out, any God would be more akin to Spinoza's God, which is more akin to "existence".
Happily, (and coincidentally) an article was posted on RDnet about this today.
http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,2740,It-Doesnt-Take-an-Einstein,Michael-Weiss
Originally posted by ScriabinWhy cant people just admit that they are wrong sometimes?
I suspect and speculate that your mind is relatively speaking somewhat limited in scope.
Oh, well, better living through denial.
In future, however, if I want your opinion, I'll ask you to fill out the necessary forms.
Originally posted by twhiteheadHe was a cultural Jew, but an atheist. It makes sense, then, that he was offered the post of Prime Minister of Israel when it was created in 1948, because Theodor Herzl was the same: cultural Jew but practical atheist.
He might have been a Jew, but he was not Jewish as in 'a believer in Judaism'.
Originally posted by scottishinnzIt's funny that you're using my view to support your argument. Somebody else has done the same thing in this thread, only his argument is different. Please continue to amuse me.
Einstein certainly didn't believe in your God. As Bosse de Nage has pointed out, any God would be more akin to Spinoza's God, which is more akin to "existence".
Originally posted by scherzoI presume you've read through this thread and discovered that a) Einstein didn't believe in a personal god; b) Einstein believed in 'Spinoza's God'; c) Einstein couldn't give a definitive yes or no when asked directly if he was an atheist. What do you make of that?
He was a cultural Jew, but an atheist.
Originally posted by Bosse de NageWell, I would say I'm using Eistein's viewpoint to support my argument, but I believe in referencing people when they have pointed something out in a particularly efficacious way.
It's funny that you're using my view to support your argument. Somebody else has done the same thing in this thread, only his argument is different. Please continue to amuse me.
Originally posted by Bosse de NageI never said he was not an atheist.
I presume you've read through this thread and discovered that a) Einstein didn't believe in a personal god; b) Einstein believed in 'Spinoza's God'; c) Einstein couldn't give a definitive yes or no when asked directly if he was an atheist. What do you make of that?
He was a cultural Jew. He was an atheist. Just like an atheist can celebrate Christmas and Easter, or Ramadan. There are cultural Christians, Jews, Muslims, and everything else throughout the world. Of them, several million are atheist.
4 edits
The question of this thread seems to be whether or not Einstien was an atheist.
It seems that people are eager claim that a smart person like Einstien is "own thier side." "See? The real smart guy believes like we do."
I don't think Einstien was an atheist. I don't believe he had any kind of idea of a personal relationship with God. But his statements about God (albiet an non-personal one) do not sound like atheism.
Maybe those atheists who want to claim Ablert Einstien for Atheism are reacting to those who want to claim him for Christianity. Although, I can't recall any article by a Christian trying to do so.
There may be some who have tried. Most references I see to Einstien's beliefs in God were simply theistic and not explicitely Jewish or Christian.
I want to thank Scriabin for his quotations.
1 edit
Originally posted by Bosse de NageHe sounds like Ayn Rand in that he deeply admires 'religious' feelings but thinks they should be inspired by the natural instead of a nonexistent supernatural.
Just for you:
"I have repeatedly said that in my opinion the idea of a personal God is a childlike one, 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 wea t could cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism. (Albert Einstein)"
Originally posted by jaywillNo. The point of the thread was to debunk the idea that Einstein was a theist.
The question of this thread seems to be whether or not Einstien was an atheist.
It seems that people are eager claim that a smart person like Einstien is "own thier side." "See? The real smart guy believes like we do."
I don't think Einstien was an atheist. I don't believe he had any kind of idea of a personal relationship with God. But his st ...[text shortened]... d not explicitely Jewish or Christian.
I want to thank Scriabin for his quotations.
1 edit
He was a theist. When asked if he believed in God he said that the question was an insult to him. He said how could a scientist such as he not believe in God. Or essentially those things he said.
By no tortured logic can it be "debunked" that Albert Einstien was a theist.