Belief in God 'childish,' Jews not chosen people: Einstein letter

[mR ReZiW]

LONDON (AFP) - Albert Einstein described belief in God as "childish superstition" and said Jews were not the chosen people, in a letter to be sold in London this week, an auctioneer said Tuesday.ADVERTISEMENTThe father of relativity, whose previously known views on religion have been more ambivalent and fuelled much discussion, made the comments in response to a philosopher in 1954.As a Jew himself, Einstein said he had a great affinity with Jewish people but said they "have no different quality for me than all other people"."The word God is 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."No interpretation no matter how subtle can change this," he wrote in the letter written on January 3, 1954 to the philosopher Eric Gutkind, cited by The Guardian newspaper.The German-language letter is being sold Thursday by Bloomsbury Auctions in Mayfair after being in a private collection for more than 50 years, said the auction house's managing director Rupert Powell.In it, the renowned scientist, who declined an invitation to become Israel's second president, rejected the idea that the Jews are God's chosen people."The Jewish religion like all others is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions," he said."And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people."And he added: "As far as my experience goes, they are no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."Previously the great scientist's comments on religion -- such as "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind" -- have been the subject of much debate, used notably to back up arguments in favour of faith.Powell said the letter being sold this week gave a clear reflection of Einstein's real thoughts on the subject. "He's fairly unequivocal as to what he's saying. There's no beating about the bush," he told AFP.LONDON (AFP) - Albert Einstein described belief in God as "childish superstition" and said Jews were not the chosen people, in a letter to be sold in London this week, an auctioneer said Tuesday.ADVERTISEMENTThe father of relativity, whose previously known views on religion have been more ambivalent and fuelled much discussion, made the comments in response to a philosopher in 1954.As a Jew himself, Einstein said he had a great affinity with Jewish people but said they "have no different quality for me than all other people"."The word God is 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."No interpretation no matter how subtle can change this," he wrote in the letter written on January 3, 1954 to the philosopher Eric Gutkind, cited by The Guardian newspaper.The German-language letter is being sold Thursday by Bloomsbury Auctions in Mayfair after being in a private collection for more than 50 years, said the auction house's managing director Rupert Powell.In it, the renowned scientist, who declined an invitation to become Israel's second president, rejected the idea that the Jews are God's chosen people."The Jewish religion like all others is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions," he said."And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people."And he added: "As far as my experience goes, they are no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."Previously the great scientist's comments on religion -- such as "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind" -- have been the subject of much debate, used notably to back up arguments in favour of faith.Powell said the letter being sold this week gave a clear reflection of Einstein's real thoughts on the subject. "He's fairly unequivocal as to what he's saying. There's no beating about the bush," he told AFP.http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080513/wl_uk...ncejewseinsteinwow talk about real talk from an OG! late night thred blitz beguns,,,

[Maxxx]

Told man from day...........

[Guest Remy Lebeau]

smhhere we go...

[Ankle Murda]

LOL

[nyeleman]

All i want to know is how the hell did this childish superstition know about dinosaurs, the big bang,the name of the oldest tribes in the world,the firmament alien and human mating and sea monsters 3000 years before scientists. It's either some jewish scribe was doing some seriously accurate guess work or something else. When scientists explain how peasants knew things 3000 years before them maybe i will beliefe that the creator is superstition

[RaiKkoNen]

'A collection of jewish fairy tales' - Bill Maher on the Bible.Cosigned my good man.f*ck*ng religion. SMH

[Guest Mickey Kane]

smhhere we go...

[King Jammy]

Same old nonsense. If you believe in God in whatever way shape or form go ahead and do your ting.If not, [JAMMER]shatapshatapshatapshatapshatapshatapshatap[/JAMMER]The arguments boring now

[Badman]

this is the smartest man that has ever existed talking but f*ck him stillstill a matter of opinion

[spiderman]

this basically boils down to...SCIENCE vs RELIGION....and which one u side with. in the age were in where science is more of where our attention is at, and its progressed us so much, i think GENERALLY ppl are liberated enough these days for the "overall" opinion on this to be more on the science side....but there are still some things science doesnt account for and religion has been woven deep into human pyscology for so long it wont be replaced that easily.personally id rather science proove everything, but because it hasnt i still have A religous view. a bit of both is the right mix in this day and age....its basically down to those who like things to be prooved with facts before they get a peace of mind....vs those who like to assume or guess at a rough "answer" for peace of mind.

[Greens]

this basically boils down to...SCIENCE vs RELIGION....and which one u side with. in the age were in where science is more of where our attention is at, and its progressed us so much, i think GENERALLY ppl are liberated enough these days for the "overall" opinion on this to be more on the science side....but there are still some things science doesnt account for and religion has been woven deep into human pyscology for so long it wont be replaced that easily.personally id rather science proove everything, but because it hasnt i still have A religous view. a bit of both is the right mix in this day and age....its basically down to those who like things to be prooved with facts before they get a peace of mind....vs those who like to assume or guess at a rough "answer" for peace of mind.

To me its not even Science vs Religion, its more common sense and logical thinking vs Religion.you might aswell believe in magical fairies and unicorns.

[carpedeum]

you say logical thinking yet beleive that a ball of gas formed and blew up to create the earth and all living things. ok

[streets.]

this basically boils down to...SCIENCE vs RELIGION....and which one u side with. in the age were in where science is more of where our attention is at, and its progressed us so much, i think GENERALLY ppl are liberated enough these days for the "overall" opinion on this to be more on the science side....but there are still some things science doesnt account for and religion has been woven deep into human pyscology for so long it wont be replaced that easily.personally id rather science proove everything.its basically down to those who like things to be prooved with facts before they get a peace of mind....vs those who like to assume or guess at a rough "answer" for peace of mind.

[Guest Flat Eric]

bidibutbut

soopadoop

Oooerrrr

[Jubez II]

"Prove he doesn't exist"

[Thun]

"Prove he doesn't exist"

Init. Einstein was unable to prove that.

[Action Dan]

God = Sun.(not the newspaper)

[Bill Murray]

you say logical thinking yet beleive that a ball of gas formed and blew up to create the earth and all living things. ok

What's the alternative?

[CK Flash]

"Prove he doesn't exist"

Init. Einstein was unable to prove that.

Init, something he can never do. Any guy chatting sh*t.

[Skola]

bidibutbut

soopadoop

Oooerrrr

Oooerrr

[Badman]

this basically boils down to...SCIENCE vs RELIGION....and which one u side with. in the age were in where science is more of where our attention is at, and its progressed us so much, i think GENERALLY ppl are liberated enough these days for the "overall" opinion on this to be more on the science side....but there are still some things science doesnt account for and religion has been woven deep into human pyscology for so long it wont be replaced that easily.personally id rather science proove everything, but because it hasnt i still have A religous view. a bit of both is the right mix in this day and age....its basically down to those who like things to be prooved with facts before they get a peace of mind....vs those who like to assume or guess at a rough "answer" for peace of mind.

To me its not even Science vs Religion, its more common sense and logical thinking vs Religion.you might aswell believe in magical fairies and unicorns.

lol @ common sence and logical thinkinglike the human brain is capable of fathoming the real truths of lifelogical thinking proves what I just saidpersonally it should be Ignorance v religion

[SPEAK NO EVIL]

if u wana be atheist or agnostic that's you but its jarring when people go on about 'science vs religion' as if science and religion r even mutually opposed. ive heard people in discussions actually say "i believe in science" idiotic mother f*ckers.

[CK Flash]

if u wana be atheist or agnostic that's you but its jarring when people go on about 'science vs religion' as if science and religion r even mutually opposed. ive heard people in discussions actually say "i believe in science" idiotic mother f*ckers.

I agree, the dumbest statement that people can ever say!

[Guest Eduardo]

Idiots.The burden of proof isn't on the person arguing that something doesn't exist.It's on the person arguing that something DOES exist.That's how science works you see.

[Ankle Murda]

this basically boils down to...SCIENCE vs RELIGION....and which one u side with. in the age were in where science is more of where our attention is at, and its progressed us so much, i think GENERALLY ppl are liberated enough these days for the "overall" opinion on this to be more on the science side....but there are still some things science doesnt account for and religion has been woven deep into human pyscology for so long it wont be replaced that easily.personally id rather science proove everything, but because it hasnt i still have A religous view. a bit of both is the right mix in this day and age....its basically down to those who like things to be prooved with facts before they get a peace of mind....vs those who like to assume or guess at a rough "answer" for peace of mind.

To me its not even Science vs Religion, its more common sense and logical thinking vs Religion.you might aswell believe in magical fairies and unicorns.

LOL Unicorns are in the Bible apparently.So are talking donkeys and talking burning bushes (this I KNOW)