from Einstein to Gutkind

[adelaidesean]

"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish."

Albert Einstein, 1954, in a letter being auctioned this week.

If I had a few easy grand lying around, I'd be tempted.

Comments

Re: God does not play dice!!

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Perhaps he did, as he got older (and, one would hope, wiser). This letter was written about a year before he died.

I like to think that scientists like Einstein are using the word "god" metaphorically, since we don't really have any other word in our language that captures/conveys the awe and wonder experienced during the contemplation of the natural universe. To avoid confusion (and hi-jacking of their quotes by unscrupulous types--not you) I wish we would come up with something else, something catchy that has no theistic hangovers at all--but where to start?