Einstein quote about a higher being

[Vitnir]

I know Einstein was an outspoken atheist but now I read a quote about that he is supposed to have said that the more you learn about the powers of universe the more you become aware of a higher power.

Anyone know where it is taken from?

 

[Leif Roar]

Hmm - what's your source that Einstein was an "outspoken atheist"? The Æncyclopedia Britannica says the following about Einstein's religious views, (but I wouldn't consider such an aside to be authoriative.)

Firmly denying atheism, Einstein expressed a belief in “Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the harmony of what exists.”

 

[wittgenst3in]

From what I've heard Einstein is on record as being a Pantheist (or perhaps Panetheist).

This should not be confused with Atheism. Although neither would consider for a minute theistic notions like praying for intervention the pantheist considers god manifesting in nature.

This is kind of a fuzzy definition, if anyone wants to better it I'd apprieciate it. I remember reading a tract on Pantheism and still being unsure what the practical difference between it and agnosticism/atheism. I think it involves a certain degree of something akin to what might be called nature worship.

 

[Gestahl]

Hmm - what's your source that Einstein was an "outspoken atheist"? The Æncyclopedia Britannica says the following about Einstein's religious views, (but I wouldn't consider such an aside to be authoriative.)

I have been reading Spinoza, and he has a very strange concept of God. Basically, God is the overall pattern and ebb and flow of things in the entire universe. No emotion (beyond what we exhibit, being part of him and all)... in fact it turns out Spinoza's God is both the embodiment of every attribute and no attributes at once... still haven't gotten over that paradox yet...

 

[Vitnir]

Well since he denied the concept of a personal God I would call him an atheist. My knowledge about Spinoza is however very limited but I read that believing in Spinoza and being a theist is very far away.

 

[wittgenst3in]

Well since he denied the concept of a personal God I would call him an atheist. My knowledge about Spinoza is however very limited but I read that believing in Spinoza and being a theist is very far away.

He's definitely not a theist but I still think he's also not an atheist. He makes several references to his beliefs in a non-personal god, and he's obviously aware of the traditional definitions so it seems to me that if he wanted to be called an atheist, he would have actually called himself one.

 

[Vitnir]

And so, just what was Einstein's philosophical stance as regards the "god" question? It is clear from his statements that he can honestly be considered an agnostic, or an atheist, or possibly a pantheist in the tradition of Spinoza, but that he was most certainly not a theist. In particular, Einstein rejected theism as a basis for morality. Furthermore, he was aware than some religious apologists were deliberately misrepresenting his views.
In other words, Einstein was evidently an atheist but was apparently of the opinion that it was ungracious to say so in a forthright manner. With all due respect to the great scientist, some of us choose to disagree with him on this last point.

From here

 

[Riddick]

I know Einstein was an outspoken atheist but now I read a quote about that he is supposed to have said that the more you learn about the powers of universe the more you become aware of a higher power.

Anyone know where it is taken from?

You seem to ignore that Einstein himself said he was not an atheist.

"I'm not an atheist, and I don't think I can call myself a pantheist. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled 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 are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but doesn't know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being toward God. We see the universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws but only dimly understand these laws. Our limited minds grasp the mysterious force that moves the constellations." - Albert Einstein (G.S. Viereck, Glimpses of the Great, 1930, quoted by D. Brian, Einstein--A Life)

 

[Gestahl]

Well since he denied the concept of a personal God I would call him an atheist. My knowledge about Spinoza is however very limited but I read that believing in Spinoza and being a theist is very far away.

Well, Spinoza is neither theist nor deist, because deism requires a creating God that no longer interacts... impossible under Spinoza because God is everything... even interaction itself.

The real question is what you mean by "no God" for atheism. I would call Spinoza to be very close to athiest, since his God is not necessarily an active force with a will. I have not read very far into Spinoza, but it seems to me that anytime you define God to be the Universe and its inherent nature, with no part of God outside of it (no metaphysical separation), you are simply adding another name to the Universe. Very close to atheism. Of course, I may be mis-reading Spinoza entirely...

 

[Art Vandelay]

Hmm - what's your source that Einstein was an "outspoken atheist"? The Æncyclopedia Britannica says the following about Einstein's religious views, (but I wouldn't consider such an aside to be authoriative.)

I thought the "ae" was in the fourth syllable, not the first.

 

[wittgenst3in]

I'd just like to make a point.

a) Einstein was not a theist. No argument there.

b) Einstein has said he is not an atheist. He knew abviously knew the definitions, and specifically said he is not an atheist. He mentions the concept of Spinozas god and specifically says he believes in it.

If this were someone else, (and to use the typical overexample) say a serial killer who says has gone on record as not an atheist, would we be as insistent that he is?

 

[Leif Roar]

I thought the "ae" was in the fourth syllable, not the first.

Whoops - you're quite right of course. My mistake.

 

[Dylab]

What are the differences between Einstein's religious views and that of the typical avowed atheist?

 

[Riddick]

What are the differences between Einstein's religious views and that of the typical avowed atheist?

einstein fell in love with another girl while he was married. he carried on an affair with the other girl. he then divorced his wife for that other girl and then married the other girl.

yes, a true role model for all of us, christian and non-christian alike.

"I'm not an atheist." - Albert Einstein
"I'm not an atheist." - Albert Einstein
"I'm not an atheist." - Albert Einstein
"I'm not an atheist." - Albert Einstein

 

[Iacchus]

I have been reading Spinoza, and he has a very strange concept of God. Basically, God is the overall pattern and ebb and flow of things in the entire universe. No emotion (beyond what we exhibit, being part of him and all)... in fact it turns out Spinoza's God is both the embodiment of every attribute and no attributes at once... still haven't gotten over that paradox yet...

Actually that makes sense if you understand that it allows for variance (of degree) as well as diversity.

 

[Leif Roar]

What are the differences between Einstein's religious views and that of the typical avowed atheist?

I don't know much about Einstein's religious views, except what's been said in this thread, but it would seem to me that the difference is that Einstein thinks there's something there, even though it is subtle, while an atheist thinks there's nothing there.

 

[Ratman_tf]

einstein fell in love with another girl while he was married. he carried on an affair with the other girl. he then divorced his wife for that other girl and then married the other girl.

yes, a true role model for all of us, christian and non-christian alike.

"I'm not an atheist." - Albert Einstein
"I'm not an atheist." - Albert Einstein
"I'm not an atheist." - Albert Einstein
"I'm not an atheist." - Albert Einstein

Pobody's Nerfect.