Dreadfully off-topic and wrong forum and all that. Ah well.
coledude writes:
Many of the great scientists were either Christians or came to the conclusion that God must exist (Newton, Galileo, Einstein etc.).
Newton and Galileo were certainly Christians, but Einstein was agnostic... and atheistic with respect to a personal God.
Einstein had quite a lot to say on religion, and a great source of information is Arnold Lesikar's pages on
Some of Einstein's Writings on Science and Religion.
Some of the brief quotes in the
Short Quotations page give a flavour of his views. Quotes on this page are apparently taken from
The Quotable Einstein, edited by Alice Calaprice.
Why do you write to me "God should punish the English"? I have no close connection to either one or the other. I see only with deep regret that God punishes so many of His children for their numerous stupidities, for which only He Himself can be held responsible; in my opinion, only His nonexistence could excuse Him. (1915)
Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe-a spirit vastly superior to that of man.... In this way the pursuit of science leads to a religious feeling of a special sort, which is indeed quite different from the religiosity of someone more naive. (1936)
My position concerning God is that of an agnostic. I am convinced that a vivid consciousness of the primary importance of moral principles for the betterment and ennoblement of life does not need the idea of a law-giver, especially a law-giver who works on the basis of reward and punishment. (1950)
My feeling is religious insofar as I am imbued with tile consciousness of the insufficiency of the human mind to understand more deeply the harmony of the Universe which we try to formulate as "laws of nature." (1952)
I am a deeply religious nonbeliever.... This is a somewhat new kind of religion. (1954)
My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive With our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible Universe, forms my idea of God. (quoted in his obituary, 1955)
(Edit to add a subtopic title.)
This message has been edited by Sylas, 05-13-2004 09:42 AM
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