Did Albert Einstein say this?

Question

"It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it."

And, if so, did he say it before or after he said all of the rubbish that Christian propagandists put into his mouth?

Answer 1

According to Richard Dawkins he did. It is mentioned in the review here: http://www.amazon.com/God-Delusion-Richard-Dawkins/dp/product-description/0618680004

It also sound very legitimant to me. Einstien seemed to be either a Diest or outright Athiest (at least later in life) from what I have read. I personally have not been able to tell exactly what he thought as he seems to contradict himself at time. It seems like he thought there may have been a creator, but that it was all beyond human understanding.

Answer 2

Yes, that statement was his. I don't know when he said it or what you mean by "Christian propagandists putting it into his mouth."

Personally, I prefer the following Einstein quotations:

"Quantum mechanics is certainly imposing. But an inner voice tells me it is not yet the real thing. The theory says a lot, but does not really bring us any closer to the secret of the Old One. I, at any rate, am convinced that He does not throw dice."

"I do not think that it is necessarily the case that science and religion are natural opposites. In fact, I think that there is a very close connection between the two. Further, I think that science without religion is lame and, conversely, that religion without science is blind. Both are important and should work hand-in-hand."

Asked whether or not he believed in God by Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein, Einstein replied, "I believe in Spinoza's God, Who reveals Himself in the lawful harmony of the world, not in a God Who concerns Himself with the fate and the doings of mankind."

Answer 3

I am not sure really, but it does sound like him, and more than likely he said it after wards. Most eggheads do not believe in a higher supreme being cause they think they know everything, but that is so egotistical to think you are the only. If Christopher Columbus, and Amerigo Vespucci thought like the others, and believed that the world was flat where would we be as a society all crammed up in the old world. Think outside the box. There is more out there that our little feeble minds, will not be able to grasp. Everything has a creator. Things don't just "pop-up" from nothing.

Answer 4

I think that Einstein really said that, and after the rubbish. Oftentimes he said things that people can take different ways.
I give you an example.

In 1932 Albert Einstein wrote in a letter to Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, "As a human being one has been endowed with intelligence to be able to see clearly how utterly inadequate that intelligence is when confronted with what exists."

We should avoid all costs an arrogance that believes human intellect alone can plumb the depths of the mysteries around us. The advice of Einstein must surely be applied to this great consideration of the being of God.

It is not wise to reject His existence and His being just and only because we cannot understand Him, explain Him and we are unable totally to comprehend Him fully.

I do not think he had a personal relationship with God, and I do not suggest that he even seeked it. And that is the great thing about the free will that if you do not want to be with God forever...you will not. God will make attempts over and over again to "win you over"...but ultimately He will respect your choice.

Answer 5

Albert Einstein, 1954, from "Albert Einstein: The Human Side", edited by Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman, Princeton University Press

Answer 6

they say evil is the absence of goodness (God), as a lot as chilly is the absence of warm temperature, or darkness is the absence of light, yet when truly Einstein suggested that. he made a gigantic mistake because warmth and gentle can bodily be measured, yet sturdy and evil are surely traits to describe a particular habit and can't be measured. So if evil is the absence of sturdy, also sturdy stands proud because the absence of evil. (traits). Plus in accordance to Abrahamic religions, God is each thing so if there is evil, it is also area of God's nature. some will say evil comes with the help of loose will and rejecting God. properly why then lots of those who do not trust of their God are sturdy? "Is God prepared to stay away from evil, yet no longer in a position? Then he's not all-powerful. Is he in a position, yet no longer prepared? Then he's malevolent. Is he both in a position and prepared? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither in a position nor prepared? Then why call him God?" - Epicurus

Answer 7

Yes, Einstein was always being mis-quoted to fit other's agendae. He made himself quite clear on the subject on many occasions, never flying in the face of religious people..he was a very modest man. But he held his own convictions and did not vary. It is very hard to have tremendous faith in God when so much in reality seems to contradict the philosophy.

Answer 8

After. Einstein often spoke to laymen, and so he avoided highly scientific terms in those interactions. But he also spoke colorfully, and often used 'god' as a metaphor for nature... like "god does not play dice with the universe." People misunderstood those types of utterances, and took it to mean that he was religious. He was not... he was an atheist.

Answer 9

Yes, he did.

http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/einprayr.htm#GOD

From what I can tell, Einstein's religious convictions were more in line with the Deists of the 17th and 18th centuries than with any formal belief system.

"I believe in Spinoza's God, Who reveals Himself in the lawful harmony of the world, not in a God Who concerns Himself with the fate and the doings of mankind." - 1925

Answer 10

What does it matter either way? I don't think I'll be interacting with him anytime soon. Einstein doesn't effect my life very much. He did create the world's most deadly weapon which lead to millions of people living with fear. Not exactly the type of guy I'd look up to.