Religion

MineralMan

(147,606 posts)

34. It's interesting that there was and is so much interest in Einstein's

Thu Dec 6, 2018, 10:20 AM

Dec 2018

views regarding deities. He was asked about the existence of god or gods many times. He did not like the question, since it had nothing really to do with his areas of expertise.

In this letter, he made his opinion known quite clearly, but most of the time, he tried to avoid making such clear statements in response to the questions. He knew where his genius lay, and it wasn't in metaphysics. He was a mathematician and a physicist. He dealt with the physical universe, not the metaphysical one.

His letter brought a huge price at auction, because it settles the issue of Einstein's opinion on the matter, once and for all. And yet, it remains the opinion of a man of science, and will be ignored by people who look at the world through a different set of eyes.

And, just in case anyone wonders, I share Einstein's view of those matters.

The word God is for me nothing but the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of venerable but still rather primitive legends.

No interpretation, no matter how subtle, can (for me) change anything about this. - Albert Einstein

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Einstein's last words on gods. [View all] Voltaire2 Dec 2018 OP

Sad. He missed it. It's not about the stories, it's about the moral philosophy it embodies. pdsimdars Dec 2018 #1

Well said, pdsimdars, well said! pazzyanne Dec 2018 #2

So you know more than Einstein? rickyhall Dec 2018 #4

Einstein may have been a genius, PatSeg Dec 2018 #14

Obviously more about religion than he did. pdsimdars Dec 2018 #55

I have witnessed the moral compass of Evangelicals ... BlueJac Dec 2018 #5

Some Atheists have only one moral compass, not all, just NeoLiberal economics. safeinOhio Dec 2018 #6

Lulzd. "Some atheists"". Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #42

Only because they have not read or studied her. safeinOhio Dec 2018 #44

Oh, so theists get a pass because they are idiots. Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #45

Just like some Atheists get a pass. safeinOhio Dec 2018 #46

No I couldn't know you were giving Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #47

And what "moral philosophy" is that? Act_of_Reparation Dec 2018 #8

The homophobic one that says women should be subservient Major Nikon Dec 2018 #20

It also says you shouldn't eat pork or shellfish... Act_of_Reparation Dec 2018 #33

Well there's that Major Nikon Dec 2018 #35

"Chop the top of your dick off!" Act_of_Reparation Dec 2018 #36

Paul was the the preeminent marketing guy Major Nikon Dec 2018 #39

He's the reason for the season. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2018 #40

The reason Mary and Joseph couldn't get a room was the Christmas season Major Nikon Dec 2018 #41

Spoken like a real religious person. You have it right. Others don't. You know what is wrong with wasupaloopa Dec 2018 #9

see! who needs it certainot Dec 2018 #11

I find it offensive that you think it "ironic" that people who "profess" being atheists have the... Javaman Dec 2018 #15

If the threat of an imaginary hell is really needed... Major Nikon Dec 2018 #21

+1 nt Javaman Dec 2018 #23

I think you missed what I said. . . . pdsimdars Dec 2018 #56

you said "profess" in regards to atheism. Javaman Dec 2018 #59

Javaman, I hope you don't feel that your post is out of place. Mariana Dec 2018 #60

Yeah, a moral framework like kids should be slaughtered form making fun of bald guys, /nt LongtimeAZDem Dec 2018 #16

Which moral philosophy? Which moral framework? trotsky Dec 2018 #19

Actually, the Bible is silent on abortion, except for a passage in numbers that seems to mandate it LongtimeAZDem Dec 2018 #28

Thanks for posting this chapter and verse. yellerpup Dec 2018 #30

Ah, if only it were that easy. trotsky Dec 2018 #38

"Moral Philosophy"?!...really?... NeoGreen Dec 2018 #24

Moral philosophy?? Farmer-Rick Dec 2018 #27

Really? PJMcK Dec 2018 #29

Yes, pdsimdars. Polly Hennessey Dec 2018 #31

Good point to keep in mind pdsimdars Dec 2018 #57

Hint... NeoGreen Dec 2018 #58

Interesting take. Reminds me of the Karl Marx quote calimary Dec 2018 #3

Marx takes the idea to the next level Major Nikon Dec 2018 #37

This message was self-deleted by its author wasupaloopa Dec 2018 #7

Well, this thread didn't disappoint. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2018 #10

Flashback Major Nikon Dec 2018 #22

That's just one man's opinion. But what a person! erronis Dec 2018 #12

Yes, erronis. Polly Hennessey Dec 2018 #32

It's astounding anyone can believe in magical BS. Red Raider 85 Dec 2018 #13

A study in contrast Cartoonist Dec 2018 #17

remember he was around for the rise of fascism in germany where certainot Dec 2018 #18

Not quite every German... NeoGreen Dec 2018 #25

Which might at first seem to contradict his statement "God does not play dice with the universe" still_one Dec 2018 #26

He was, I hesitate to say this, speaking metaphorically. Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #43

Correct still_one Dec 2018 #48

It's interesting that there was and is so much interest in Einstein's MineralMan Dec 2018 #34

Is anyone an expert in The metaphysical? still_one Dec 2018 #49

Impossible, since it does not exist. MineralMan Dec 2018 #50

.................................................................. still_one Dec 2018 #51

Metaphysics is just what's left over after all the physical questions are answered marylandblue Dec 2018 #54

I have a red phone directly to the Almighty Major Nikon Dec 2018 #52

trump thinks he has ultimate power, I hope the red phone isn't linked to his, or we all are in deep still_one Dec 2018 #53