Atheists: Do you support the use of a "Poetic God"?

Question

Einstein was, we know quite well, an atheist. But he used phrases like, "God does not play dice" in a poetic sense. And surely it's more eloquent than, "the universe is like a huge computer with therefor cannot truly generate random information".

Do you think it's good and well to use a poetic/distant God? What's your take?

Answer 1

Well, honestly that depends entirely upon the speaker. If they are an atheist and want to be known / remembered as one, it's probably best to avoid it, as the argument about Einstein's religious beliefs shows us quite well.

Answer 2

I'm not an atheist, but isn't there some debate over whether or not Einstein was a believer? Religion claiming one thing and the scientific community another (concerning his belief). Of course, Einstein himself was Jewish, which would make him predisposed to belief in the view of others.
I think his 'poetic' use of G-d may have just stirred some confusion.

Answer 3

I know that I certainly do, almost all the time. I think it's why so many people don't know that I'm an atheist, because I use all sorts of phrases with God in them and make discussions where I don't explicitly say "If God were to exist, _______". I don't think there's anything wrong with it if an individual wants to use that, but I can respect the atheist who is very strict as well (even as I wonder about their anal retention over the matter).

Answer 4

Einstein, if he believed in a God, believed in Spinoza's God. But yes, it's fine for poetry. Expressions like that we know are not to do with belief, it's when morals come into it etc that statements become to do with religion.

Answer 5

So long as it's realized that it's meant in that sense, not litterally, then I see no problem with it.

Answer 6

the concept lends itself to metaphor and I use it as such but nothing more.