Einstein: Nothing 'chosen' about the Jews, Bible 'childish' legends

[LetsPlayYourWay]

Einstein: Nothing 'chosen' about the Jews, Bible 'childish' legends

Last update - 19:02 13/05/2008
Einstein: Nothing 'chosen' about the Jews, Bible 'childish' legends
By Bradley Burston, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Judaism, Bible, God, Einstein

Albert Einstein, writing in 1954, dismissed Judaism and other religions as "an incarnation of the most childish superstitions," though he said he gladly belonged to the Jewish people and felt a deep affinity for the Jews' "mentality," excerpts published on Tuesday showed.

Einstein also said he saw nothing "chosen" about the Jews, and that they were no better than other peoples "although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power."

The renowned physicist, who died a little more than a year after writing the letter, also had tough words for God and the Bible, according to the text published by the British The Guardian daily.


"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," the letter was quoted as saying. "No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this."

The letter, written in German in January, 1954 to philosopher Eric Gutkind, is to be auctioned in London on Thursday, the paper said. Written in Einstein's hand, the letter, which has been in private hands for more than half a century, reportedly could sell for as much as 8,000 pounds sterling.

Turning to Judaism, Einstein wrote that "For me the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions. 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.

"As far as my experience goes, they are also 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."

Einstein: Nothing 'chosen' about the Jews, Bible 'childish' legends - Haaretz - Israel News

[v3d4]

is this political? it sure isnt current events

[LetsPlayYourWay]

Originally Posted by v3d4

is this political? it sure isnt current events

You're right, sorry, you can move it and if you want to be extra nice you could at the E to the beginning of the title

[moldyorangepeel]

First of all it's a ridiculous point to make. Nobody really believes that Jewish people are chosen by anyone. There could be an article from The Onion with a headline like this, "Investigation into Judaism reveals Jews are not actually chosen by anyone." It's just what they like to call themselves. Nobody takes it seriously. Maybe some Jews do, but who cares?

[kamikazi89]

his views on nationalism and militarism were, insiteful, to say the least

Originally Posted by moldyorangepeel

First of all it's a ridiculous point to make. Nobody really believes that Jewish people are chosen by anyone. There could be an article from The Onion with a headline like this, "Investigation into Judaism reveals Jews are not actually chosen by anyone." It's just what they like to call themselves. Nobody takes it seriously. Maybe some Jews do, but who cares?

check Mcains endorsements(and that's just for starters)

[spicoli]

Einstein's scientific career is impressive. I remember him for that...not his spritual insights.

[kamikazi89]

that's too bad. in many, many ways they're far more relevant(especially considering time and location)

[Dutch Action]

Any individual of any colour/race/gender/religion/group that embraces the ideology of 'gods chosen' usually end up on a crumbling self-destructive path of hatred towards himself and others. We are all gods chosen, not just your colour/race/gender/religion/group and yours only.

[kamikazi89]

hey, and then there are those of us who want no part of it..(know what i'm sayin)

[spicoli]

well what the op failed to mention was that Einstein was a Deist. he believed that God created the earth, then walked away, having had no further interest in its creation. do you agree with him on that, too?

[GirlsHateMe]

of course he doesnt agree with that, he only left it out because it diddnt support his little point of einstien belittling God...

wich btw thread starter, other than theory of math and physics, einstien was a fucking idiot...

[Vik*star*]

Einstein was a human being just like rest of us. He had his own opinions just like rest of us.

Einstein saying god dosen't exist or religion is a bunk is no different than anyone here saying they are atheist.

Its not like Einstein came back after being dead and confirmed to us that all religions are childish fantasy collections.

So the whole is thing is insignificant in my opinion and I don't even know why they made news about it.

[kamikazi89]

had something to do with a letter, and some serious money
btw, einstien wasn't very good at math

Originally Posted by Vik*star*

Its not like Einstein came back after being dead and confirmed to us that all religions are childish fantasy collections.

non sequitur: Definition and Much More from Answers.com
maybe you're thinking of houdini

[Captain Cannabis]

i think the coolest part about einstein was when he was discovering things in quantum physics he initially didn't believe that any of it could possibly be true

god does play dice yo

[Vik*star*]

^ It wasn't einstein who discovered quatum physics. It was actually Werner Heisenberg.

Werner Heisenberg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The main thing that einstein has given us is relativity theory i.e. physical laws on a large scale universe.

The problem with todays scientists are they latch on to evolutionary darwinism and relativity to strongly defend materialism while convenienty forgetting quantam physics which work totally opposite.

And now we have quantum physicts talking things like parallel universes; cyclic universes with more research; which were abhorred just recently and still by a large group of scientists who don't see anything beyond their ability to see directly.

[Captain Cannabis]

Originally Posted by Vik*star*

^ It wasn't einstein who discovered quatum physics. It was actually Werner Heisenberg.

Werner Heisenberg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The main thing that einstein has given us is relativity theory i.e. physical laws on a large scale universe.

The problem with todays scientists are they latch on to evolutionary darwinism and relativity to strongly defend materialism while convenienty forgetting quantam physics which work totally opposite.

And now we have quantum physicts talking things like parallel universes; cyclic universes with more research; which were abhorred just recently and still by a large group of scientists who don't see anything beyond their ability to see directly.

sorry for the confusion. you're right it was a slip. einstein made pretty big contributions and i was referring to the doubt he had of his own findings. he pretty much refused to believe that the universe could have been born out of randomness.

i hope to someday be able to call myself a scientist and i'm not sure who you are referring too when you say that scientists have forgotten about quantum physics. it is a field alive and well with all kinds of crazy theories (ie: string and meta theory) and exciting research (CERN in geneva is going to be operational this summer!)