(Ben Heine © Cartoons)
At one time, it was every Jewish mother’s dream for her son to grow up into an Einstein… the mark of brilliance…
Billed as the ’smartest man in the world’, he often held controversial political views… among them the banning of the nuclear bomb.
But now, over 50 years after his death, opinions expressed by him might change those mother’s minds…. especially those views on the ‘chosen people syndrome’…
Einstein: Belief in God ‘childish,’ Jews not chosen people
In letter written by father of relativity, he reveals his belief that Jewish people ‘have no different quality for me than all other people’
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.
The 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 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.
“No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) 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.
“For me 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 added.
At one time, it was every Jewish mother’s dream for her son to grow up into an Einstein… the mark of brilliance…
BlueyBlogger said,
May 15, 2008 at 1:44 am
Wow!! Now that we’ve finally got that out of the way about the Jews, maybe the Holocaust denial groups, and the Holocaust support groups around the world (who are both actually wrong in their respective assumptions) will give it a rest and get down to maybe investigating the worst ever Holocaust in modern times, an event of mega-proportions compared to the Jewish one, and is NEVER, at anytime reported on, written about, investigated but by a few, and when discovered, the discoverer soon becomes embroiled in trouble.
You are just NOT permitted to report on this mass murder of 80,000,000 people because they would not change their language, neither will you find many reports on the 95% of the Hawaiian who were slaughtered by the British for the same reason…..wow!! I wonder why this stuff is not out there being blogged?????
BlueyBlogger said,
May 15, 2008 at 1:56 am
The other thing I should have asked everyone is this, why are we giving awards to people in all areas of literature for nothing more than “fictitious conveyance of language”? Do these luminaries of the word-pen-paper-jugglers world know that they write fiction and just go along with it all because they are told? OR, Do they not know what they do, but cannot be told anyway? This brings the theory of the “conspiracy” to the highest level yet known to man…the biggest and most diabolical conspiracy ever constructed by man, for the control of man by other men………ONLY MEN WOULD DO THIS, Women on the other hand would just go to cocktails, lunch, or call a meeting at the local pub to discuss things civilised-like, AND mind the kids as well.
Matt Giwer said,
May 15, 2008 at 2:20 am
No one brags about Newton as a Christian. Why do people insist on referring to the German Einstein by his non-existent religion?
Mike Connolly said,
May 15, 2008 at 4:02 am
It would be interesting to know to whom this letter was addressed and what exactly the context was–especially considering the apparent contradiction with other statements of Mr. Einstein concerning religion–Rupert Powell’s assurances notwithstanding
amerikagulag said,
May 15, 2008 at 6:41 am
If the Germans had written th bible, the Germans would be the chosen ones. It’s all in the perspective.
David Gray said,
May 15, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I agree with him : The Truth is Devine
Jerry said,
May 16, 2008 at 6:17 am
Einstien made these comments because he knew that long after his death, the zionist would soil his name for the sake of israel.
Jacob said,
May 17, 2008 at 2:10 am
His beliefs were long known, he said if any religion would reign in the future, it would be buddhism as it accepted science and was built on obvious truths and cycles, not childish hovering ghosts. So many religions to choose from, and I think he summed it up well.. Childish.
The truth hurts.