Why do so many theists lie about Einstein's religious beliefs?

Question

Why claim that Einstein was deeply religious when this is simply false. is your argument so weak that you must resort to lies.

Why have these people ignored what Einstein himself had to say :

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death. [Albert Einstein, Religion and Science, New York Times Magazine, 9 November 1930]

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. [Albert Einstein, 1954, from Albert Einstein: The Human Side]

Answer 1

Name on Chirstian as smart as Einstein? I can't, they are just trying to recruit, like the army. Saying this famous person is in our group, you should be too!

Answer 2

I hadn't paid attention to his beliefs or lack thereof. Yours is a most interesting question, with very interesting quotes.

I've always been particularly fond of Einstein's view of insanity:
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". I don't when he said this or even 100% sure if he said it, but I like it. It's so true.
I also like his view that only two things are infinite: the universe and man's stupidity, and that he wasn't so sure about the universe.

It doesn't matter to me whatever that Einstein wasn't religious. Neither am I. Nor that he didn't believe in god. Neither do I.

I imagine people might lie about his beliefs because they want to claim him as "theirs", just as many different countries have tried to claim Shakespeare was actually a citizen of Their country and that his works are best read in their "original" in their own language! Maybe they need "heros". Maybe they were taught he was a deeply religious man. I'm interested to return in a couple of days and see what kinds of answers appear here.

Good question!

Answer 3

“The best tribute to the spirit of Germany’s Christians comes from a Jew and an agnostic (Time, Sept. 23) — the world’s most famous scientist, Albert Einstein,” the article says. Einstein is then quoted as saying:

Being a lover of freedom, when the revolution came in Germany, I looked to the universities to defend it, knowing that they had always boasted of their devotion to the cause of truth; but, no, the universities immediately were silenced. Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers whose flaming editorials in days gone by had proclaimed their love of freedom; but they, like the universities, were silenced in a few short weeks… Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced thus to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly.

Answer 4

Not that I care whether Einstein believed in God or not, but one of his most famous quotes was "God does not play dice with the Universe"

Why does what Einstein said matter anyway? Quoting someone does not prove or disprove anything. It's about personal choice. you fundie atheists are as annoying as bible thumpers. You're all cut from the same cloth.

Answer 5

1. Atheists irked Einstein. Quote....
In view of such harmony in the cosmos which I, with my limited human understanding, am able to recognize, there are yet people who say there is no God. But what really makes me angry is that they quote me for the support of such views.
2.Einstein was Jewish however was enthralled by Jesus and Moses.

You quoted one line. If you knew anything about Einstein you knew his words and life cannot be summed up by one line interpretation.
His thinking was so complex, even today science is still trying to understand his breakthroughs.
Lighten up and read about the man and learn.

Answer 6

Sadly, theists are realizing more and more each day that their lives and beliefs are built on unstable soil. With more and more of their beliefs coming under question, it is only natural for them to lash out and use the epitome of science as a believer in God as their only proof to the existence of a Supernatural force or creator of the Universe. Even though the Universe shows no evidence of this whatsoever....

The Truth shall set you free....

Answer 7

If anything, Einstein was a DEIST.. he did not believe in a personal god.

Answer 8

i guess some facts are just plain hard for some people to accept and sometimes these people are is such position of power that they can change such situation and it is really scary for the future genereations, which i do think already happens!

Answer 9

Einstein was not very religious whatsoever, but he was bipolar and had ADD.

This is a proven fact.

But nevertheless, he has contributed alot to the human race, and this will always be appreciated!!

Answer 10

they do it becuause he's an easy mark now--he's dead--- his phyisics will never go away though. Starlight is bent by gravity, and that is a fact.