Atheists: Are you more intelligent than Albert Einstein?

Question

The most brilliant man in the field of Science believed in God. Why can't you? Please explain your reasons.

In his book "The World As I See It" Einstein said that the harmony of natural law "Reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection."
He added in the same book that, "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, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble."

He was Jewish so I guess he believed in that religion's concept of God.

Einstein's belief in God was an evolutionary process. All those who said he did not believe in a God or he believed only in a certain concept of God should read Einstein's later books. Besides the book I mentioned they should also read Einstein's much later book, 'Out of My Later Years'.

Answer 1

For those of you suggesting that this question was inaccurate and that Einstein did not believe in God, you are wrong! This question was explicitly directed at "Atheists". Nothing in this question suggested that Einstein expressed a belief in a particular God (monotheistic or otherwise), only that he did not REJECT the idea of God as atheists do.

On several occasions, Einstein categorically stated that he was NOT an atheist. I'm a Christian and I would love to be able to claim that he believed what I believed, but he didn't (though he did once admit to being "am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene"...Jesus in other words). However, Einstein DID believe in the existence of a creator.

This is the question I would like to see answered. I can understand why Einstein (and even atheists) reject the notion of an individual "God" and all the trappings of man-made "theology" that go along with that. However, I have never understood how any inteligent person could reject the possibility that this marvelous universe is a result of creation (the hand of a supreme being entity not "creation" as in some specific story of how it happened) instead of random chance.

Answer 2

No, I doubt that I am.


But he did not believe in a personal god:

"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.

So, if you are a Christian, Muslim or Hindu, and believe in a personal god:

Are you smarter than Albert Einstein?

Or are you going to become a deist, like Albert.





P.S. he was also wrong about quantum mechanics. (Probably)

Answer 3

"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 religion than it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it."

That Albert Einstein? Or maybe this one:

"I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own -- a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotism."

Besides, blindly following an intellect won't make you, yourself, intellectual. It only makes you a follower.

Answer 4

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)

Answer 5

Are you interested in the truth or a comforting fiction? If you want the truth, read more about Einstein.

"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." ~ Einstein, to Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein in 1929

"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." ~ Einstein, letter to M. Berkowitz in 1950

"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."

Answer 6

Einstein did NOT believe in a personal God!

He was a deist (or agnostic according to a certain quote of his)! Which is a watered down version of theism or, in another view, is a naturalistic view of agnostic-atheism.

(And to anyone who says he was atheist - that is incorrect I'm sad to say. He stated himself several times very clearly that he was not atheist.)

In any case, he was intelligent and questioned the universe. But mind you, he was incorrect on some things. At first, when he heard of the Big Bang he thought it to be implausible until shown the mathematics behind it. Then he publicly said he was corrected.

"I believe in Spinoza's God, who reveals himself in the harmony of all being" - Einstein.

"I'm not an atheist and I don't think I can call myself a pantheist." - Einstein.

Answer 7

No, but I don't miss by much. Einstein's beliefs were what would be called deism; Jefferson is among the better known of that genre. Einstein correctly recognized that there is no evidence to support the notion of the Judaeo-Christian god; he simply supposed that the order he perceived in the universe supposed a plan of some kind. However, he was not correct in this; see:

Answer 8

Albert's belief in a god of nature is mataphorical and oft time a left handed compliment that soars above the average mind . He denied the conventional concept of theism to the hilt ....take some protracted circumspection his genius was always as simple as you might think.

I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation and is but a reflection of human frailty.
Albert Einstein
why would one think it a reflection of human frailty I ask?

Answer 9

No he did not. This is a quote from Einstein, "I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with fates and actions of human beings."
Look up Spinoza and you will understand. Don't believe what others tell you. Find the truth yourself.
A person can be of Jewish heritage and not practice Judaism

Answer 10

I don't know Al was Jewish (other than by Birth) but he did beleive in God, specifically said he was not an Atheist.

He was not Agnostic either.

He believed in some type of God.

He said. "Science without relgion is lame and Religion with out science is blind."

He said: "God doesn't play dice!"

This is definate.

Everyone in science agrees he said these things.

I saw a NOTED Physicist quote him about the DICE thing on PBS.

Steven Hawking acknowledges his DICE statement and Hawing is an Atheist.