why do so many religious people propagate lies so fervently?

Question

The classic examples are various quotes about einstein's religious convictions and that he believed in god. This is simply not true, as he stated:

"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. "

http://www.sacred-texts.com/aor/einstein/einprayr.htm

There are a vast number of other examples mostly refering to evolution using grotesque falsehoods and deliberate misinformation.

Is religious belief so poorly founded that it has to resort to slander and lies to maintain itself? Surely this is against the teachings of most religions.

trollwzrd: hardly surprising that you found other statements that suggested he was religious as it is a religious website. Once again I refer you to his statement. I do believe that it is pretty clear.

Answer 1

They've had many centuries of practice spreading lies and it's what they do best.

Answer 2

This is true with some, but not all.

A lot of religions have strayed so far from the truth and are now teaching lies. But that's not the case for all of them.

There is still a group that teaches strictly from the Bible and teach nothing but the truth. You cant paint the whole bunch with the same brush.Although they have given Religion a bad name, there is some that will "not" cling to those lies.

Anyway have a wonderful new year !

Answer 3

For fairly obvious reasons, honesty is not a strong value for religious people in general. Lying in support of their religious belief systems is considered a virtue, not a vice.

Huey - post a link to an atheist's lie on this site. I dare you. You may find one somewhere, but you'll come across a hundred religious people's lies first as you search for one. In the realm of basic honesty, atheists are FAR FAR out in front of the religious folks.

Answer 4

Well hello! Worship your own mind there !and I could also quote Einstein in which he stated there was an intelligence in everything. Whether he called it God or not was irrelevant. And you must remember Einstein didn't create anything - he was only looking for answers. The quote, "without science, religion is blind and without religion, science is lame" came from Einstein or scholars knowingly lied in which case what you indicated could also be a lie. You're profound accusations make no big difference in the ultimate end of things. Do what you will with "religion" - it is a personal responsibility. And yours is not mine and mine is not yours. Carry on.

Answer 5

I went to the link and read it.

You are correct that he did say HE didn't believe in a PERSONAL GOD, but you forgot to mention what he said about prayer. BUT EVEN HE STATES THAT THERE IS A HIGHER POWER IN THE UNIVERSE AND THAT PEOPLES FAITH HAS BEEN JUSTIFED BY THE SUCCESS OF SCIENCE.

Here is the paragragh about his answer about Prayer.

However, it must be admitted that our actual knowledge of these laws is only imperfect and fragmentary, so that, actually, the belief in the existence of basic all-embracing laws in Nature also rests on a sort of faith. All the same this faith has been largely justified so far by the success of scientific research.

But, on the other hand, every one 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, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble. 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.

I didn't say he was RELIGIOUS just that he did BELIEVE in a HIGHER POWER, BESIDES YOU QUOTED HIM, I JUST FOUND ANOTHER QUOTE TO ANSWER YOURS. (HE SAID WHAT I QUOTED, I DIDN'T), GO BACK AND CHECK YOUR LINK THAT YOU PUT IN). As you stated that religious people propogate lies I just showed how atheists do the same thing. So now you are saying you believe one thing he says but not another? Like you keep telling us YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

Answer 6

Yes it is. The problem is that Einstein was one of the greatest scientific minds, and religious people tend to think (some not all) that if they can claim him as religious it will help counteract Darwin. Sadly most people are will to spout lies to strengthen their beliefs.

Answer 7

Ummmmm....I'm gonna guess you're actually referring not to "religious people" as a whole, but to SOME Christians?

Lots of practice quoting scripture out of context?

I don't know...but whenever we look at the writing of anyone on this topic, we ought to be looking at the "preponderance of evidence" - that is to say, not the ONE quote that seems to back up your position, but ALL that they said about it.

Just like some of them carefully pick and choose quotes from the Founding Fathers to "prove' that they were "Christian".

And the ONE quotation that gets used to justify the current "speaking in tongues" in the Pentecostal churches.

~sigh~

I think if you want to know what Einstein thought about "God" you need to read everything he wrote on the subject, and if you want to know how the Founding Fathers felt about this nation being of one religion, or if they themselves were Christians, we need to look at *everything* they wrote on the subjects, and...as I said, the PREPONDERANCE of evidence.

Answer 8

I've found that creationists do this more than anybody. Last year in school, we had to write reports on science for our biology class, and I picked evolution. I started the paper out with, "I was once a young earth creationist. I now accept modern science." A Fundamentalist Christian peer of mine perverted my statement to, "I am a young earth creationist." I had to make my point clear that I was emphatically not a young earth creationist any longer.

Answer 9

You really think a person is lying if they speak from a place of ignorance?.. I call it foolish but certainly not lying... So why is it that you are so judgmental?... Jim

Oh BTW What difference dose Einstein's religious convictions make to a Christian?

Answer 10

The founder of the protestant religion Martin Luther said it best:

"Reason must be deluded, blinded, and destroyed. Faith must trample underfoot all reason, sense, and understanding, and whatever it sees must be put out of sight and ... know nothing but the word of God." Martin Luther

Answer 11

Crumbling foundations must be shored up at all costs. It is fairly easy when you have hungry sheep that are willing to swallow whatever you toss at them. There is a lot of money, control and power at stake don't ya know?