Atheists: Why can't you believe in a God like Einstein?

Question

Many of you say you are more intelligent than theists; in fact, some of you call us stupid, idiots, etc. Albert Einstein is known as the greatest mind the world has ever known yet he was humble enough to believe in a God.

The last time I posted this question my question was not answered. Instead, there was a debate on whether Einstein was a theist or not. Here are some quotes from Einstein, which I got from the web, which should settle the issue. So now please answer my question.

Science without Religion is lame.
Religion without Science is blind. Einstein

"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." Einstein

Here are some quotes:
'The religious inclination lies in the dim consciousness that dwells in humans that all nature, including the Humans in it is in no way an accidental game, but a work of lawfulness that there is a fundamental cause of all existence. " Einstein.

"Try and penetrate with our limited means the secrets of nature and you will find that, behind all the discernable laws and connections, there remains something subtle, intangible and inexplicable. Veneration for this force that is beyond anything that we can comprehend is my religion. To that extent I am, in fact, religious." Einstein.

As a child I received instructions in both the Bible and the Talmud. I am a Jew but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene." Einstein

"No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life." Einstein.

No, Einstein did not believe in the God of Spinoza.

"I am not an atheist. I don't think I can call myself a pantheist. The problem involved is too vast for our limited minds. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library with books in many languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. It does not understand the languages in which they were written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but doesn't know what it is. That, seems to me is the altitude of even the most intelligent human towards God. We see the universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws but only dimly understand those laws." Einstein

Jedi Master,
I am not a Fundamentalist. In fact, I don't like them because they seem to know more about my religion than I do.

Stars...
Yes, I believe that God may have used the process of evolution to create life forms on earth. That's my Church's position on the matter so it is mine too.

Answer 1

I quite agree with you that Einstein was the greatest mind of all time. Not only in physics, but also as a philosopher. To this very day people still do not understand his philosophical, political, religious, and personal ideas.
Why can't atheists believe in a non personal God as described by Einstein?
Putting aside all facts, logic, etc., it is simply because of the way they feel emotionally. Logic is a slave to emotions, and when emotions makes the ultimate decision, logic is used to back it up.
This also applies to agnostics, deists, theists, believers, etc.

Answer 2

Here's a legitimate answer for you:

Einstein was certainly an intelligent guy. This is particularly true in the realm of theoretical physics, which won him the Nobel Prize in 1921. These accolades, however, hardly qualify him as the ultimate authority on such a broad question as "is there a god?" You wouldn't ask Picasso to bake you a cake, or seek legal advice from Stephen Hawking. Einstein did not possess intimate knowledge about every mystery of the universe; nor has any human being in the history of our species, despite some claims to the contrary.

Answer 3

The reason they say that is because a huge majority of theists (at least in America) believe what they believe because it's what they are told to believe. The very act of questioning such a thing shows a much more mature and realistic mind than said huge majority.
There can be intelligent theists, which I don't think anyone ever doubted. It's just that when a large portion of them are mindless who just do what they're told, it's easy to generalize.
And believing in God doesn't mean you're humble. In some cases it means the opposite. Just like it can mean both for atheists too.

Answer 4

Do you understand what a belief is? Could you wake up tomorrow and decide not to believe in God anymore? If so then you don't truly believe.
People who insult others are just small minded no matter what their beliefs are.
Sorry I don't think believing in God makes someone humble, it is just the way his mind computed the information he had at the time, if those were really his beliefs. It might or might not be different if he were here today.

Here is another quote...

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; 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

Answer 5

"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 (universe) so far as our science can reveal it." ~ Albert Einstein

Einstein described his deep awe and appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the universe and nature as a 'religious' feeling in order to convey the nature of his feelings to ordinary people who were (and still are) religious. In other words, Einstein used 'god' as a metaphor, so that his expressions could resonate with the feelings of the people he was trying to communicate with. By trying to read any more than that into it, you are just confounding yourself. For example, take one quote which you cited: "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."

Translation (my words):

"If you coldly work to uncover the secrets of the universe without harboring an inner sense of wonder, awe and appreciation for the beauty, majesty, and symmetry of nature, you are depriving yourself of the most personally enriching part of the experience in what you do."

If you focus entirely upon what you think 'is', or what you have been told 'is', you are depriving yourself of the knowledge of the true basis for the awe and reverence that you feel.

As you can see, Einstein's language was colorful, concise, poetic... and ambiguous, all at the same time; i.e., 'believers' could understand it on their own terms. Such was his genius.

.

Answer 6

He believed in a god of spinoza and not a personal god like the bible god.

In another word, he believe there is no such thing as a bible god that pass judgement, but a philosophical pantheistic god .... more towards buddhism then christianity......

Please .... Cherry picking only works with christians who do not read the bible at all. For atheists, we strive to see the full picture first.

Anyway, why the christian mentally to feel you have to follow some other people to feel worthwhile?

Answer 7

Because there is no god like Einstein...and Einstein's god was little like that of modern religions. "About God, I cannot accept any concept based on the authority of the Church. As long as I can remember, I have resented mass indoctrination. I do not believe in the fear of life, in the fear of death, in blind faith. I cannot prove to you that there is no personal God, but if I were to speak of him, I would be a liar. I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil. My God created laws that take care of that. His universe is not ruled by wishful thinking, but by immutable laws."

Of course, here's the problem: Einstein refused to accept quantum mechanics because he believed in this god - and it was his biggest error. "Einstein was unable to accept Quantum Theory because of his belief in an objective, orderly reality: a reality which would not be subject to random events and which would not be dependent upon the observer. He believed that Quantum Mechanics was incomplete, and that a better theory would have no need for statistical interpretations. So far no better theory has been found and evidence suggests that it never will be."

So why would I want to repeat a mistake?

Answer 8

What you are doing is called appeal to authority. I know that Einstein held some belief in a higher power. That doesn't mean that I do, or that I have to.
Einstein was a scientist, so I might be apt to listen and believe something he might say in regards to science. He did not see or talk to God. He provided no evidence or proof that God existed, so his opinion on whether or not there is a God is really irrelevant.

Answer 9

Einstiens belief in god was akin to nature not as most theists
believe . if you understood his meanings you would realize .
he was not above the leverage of a left handed compliment either . Science without religion is pointed to morality not a personal god ,live and learn . how do you rationalize a god of no judgment or before god all men are equally wise and equally foolish think about it .I'm an Albert fan from way back but as simple as he tried to make it it still goes over many a persons head .
his last quote you stated is more of himself than of your conception . he obviously wasn't insignificant .
peace

Answer 10

Are you aware that this is a lie, or do you believe it's true and offer it as some sort of proof of your gods existence..?

Either way it is flawed. Einstein DID NOT believe in a god or gods, PERIOD..!

That aside, do you also concurr with Einsteins belief in a 4.6 billion year old Earth, biological evolution, and most importantly "naturalistic explanations" for describing and understanding the universe and all it contains..?

Your selective misquotes and misrepresentations only highlite the deciet and dishonesty of the christian and creationist propaganda and associated mindset..

You are a fraud and a liar.. Sleep well..