Nikolai Kladov: =Well, well. It's funny. I just want to classify myself as one of the dense militant atheists. I could cite here the statements of all the greats about faith in God, but why? Here are quotes from one of your “believers”: “Gods are created by human imagination” (pagan gods - yes (S.L.)). "Scientists are not inclined to believe in the power of prayer to supernatural beings." “God is the fruit of human weakness.” Everything said applies to Albert Einstein. So you, sir, lied...=

Answer.
Apparently, you, Mr. Kladov, are not only lying (there is not a single reference to the original source), but also ignorant, like any dense militant atheist.)

And this is Albert Einstein about you:

“Despite all the harmony of the cosmos, which I, with my limited mind, am still able to perceive, there are those who claim that there is no God. But what irritates me most is that they quote me in support of their views.” (Quoted in Clark 1973, 400; Jammer 2002, 97). .

“There are also fanatical atheists... They are like slaves, still feeling the oppression of chains thrown off after a hard struggle. They rebel against the “opium of the people” - the music of the spheres is unbearable for them. The miracle of nature does not become less because it can be measured by human morals and human goals." (Quoted in Max Jammer, Einstein and Religion: Physics and Theology, Princeton University Press, 2002, 97).

Albert Einstein on GOD:
;;;
1. “I want to know how God created the world. I am not interested in certain phenomena in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts, the rest is details.” (quoted in Ronald Clark, Einstein: The Life and Times, London, Hodder and Stoughton Ltd., 1973, 33).

2. “We are like a child who finds himself in a huge library, in which there are many books different languages. The child knows that someone wrote these books, but does not know how they were written. He does not understand the languages ​​in which they are written. The child vaguely suspects that there is some mystical order in the arrangement of books, but he does not know what this order is.
It seems to me that even the wisest of people looks exactly like this before God. We see that the universe is arranged in a wonderful way and obeys certain laws, but we barely understand these laws. Our limited minds are unable to comprehend the mysterious force that moves the constellations." (Quoted in Denis Brian, Einstein: A Life, New York, John Wiley and Sons, 1996, 186).

3. "We all live by the will of God and develop almost identical spiritual abilities. Jew or Gentile, slave or free, we all belong to God." (quoted from: H.G. Garbedian, Albert Einstein: Maker of Universes, New York, Funk and Wagnalls Co., 1939, 267).

4. “Anyone who is seriously engaged in science comes to the realization that in the laws of nature a Spirit is manifested, which is much higher than the human, - a Spirit in the face of which we, with our limited powers, must feel our own weakness. In this sense scientific research lead to a special kind of religious feeling, which indeed differs in many respects from a more naive religiosity." (Saying made by Einstein in 1936. Quoted in Dukas and Hoffmann, Albert Einstein: The Human Side, Princeton University Press, 1979, 33) .

5. “The deeper a person penetrates into the secrets of nature, the more he reveres God.” (Quoted in Brian 1996, 119).

6. “The most beautiful and profound experience that befalls a person is the feeling of mystery. It lies at the basis of true science. Anyone who has not experienced this feeling, who is no longer overwhelmed by awe, is practically dead. This deep emotional confidence in the existence of a higher intelligent power revealing itself in the incomprehensibility of the Universe is my idea of ​​God." (Quoted in Libby Anfinsen 1995).

7. “My religion consists of a feeling of humble admiration for the boundless intelligence that manifests itself in the smallest details of the picture of the world, which we are only able to partially grasp and know with our minds.” (Saying made by Einstein in 1936. Quoted in Dukas and Hoffmann 1979, 66).

8. “The more I study the world, the stronger my faith in God.” (Quoted in: Holt 1997).

9. Max Yammer (emeritus professor of physics, author of the biography Einstein and Religion (2002), argues that widely famous saying Einstein “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind” - the quintessence of the religious philosophy of the great scientist. (Jammer 2002; Einstein 1967,30).

10. “In the Judeo-Christian religious tradition we find the highest principles by which we must guide all our aspirations and judgments. Our feeble powers are not sufficient to reach this highest goal, but it forms the sure foundation of all our aspirations and value judgments.” (Albert Einstein, Out of My Later Years, New Jersey, Littlefield, Adams and Co., 1967, 27).

11. “Despite all the harmony of the cosmos, which I, with my limited mind, am still able to perceive, there are those who claim that there is no God. But what irritates me most is that they quote me in support of their views.” (Quoted in Clark 1973, 400; Jammer 2002, 97).

12. "True religion is true life, life with all the soul, with all its goodness and righteousness." (Quoted in Garbedian 1939, 267).

13. "Behind everyone" greatest achievements science is based on confidence in the logical coherence and knowability of the world - a confidence that is akin to religious experience... This deep emotional confidence in the existence of a higher intelligent power, revealed in the incomprehensibility of the Universe, is my idea of ​​​​God" (Einstein 1973, 255).

14. "Strong mental activity and the study of God's Nature - these are the angels that will guide me through all the hardships of this life, give me consolation, strength and uncompromisingness." (Quoted in: Calaprice 2000, ch. 1).

15. Einstein's opinion about Jesus Christ was expressed in his interview with the American magazine "The Saturday Evening Post" (The Saturday Evening Post, October 26, 1929):
"What influence did Christianity have on you?
- As a child, I studied both the Bible and the Talmud. I'm Jewish, but I'm fascinated bright personality Nazarene.
-Have you read the book about Jesus written by Emil Ludwig?
- The portrait of Jesus painted by Emil Ludwig is too superficial. Jesus is so large-scale that it defies the pen of phrase-mongers, even very skilled ones. Christianity cannot be rejected just on the basis of a catchphrase.
- Do you believe in the historical Jesus?
- Of course! It is impossible to read the Gospel without feeling the real presence of Jesus. His personality breathes in every word. No myth has such a powerful vital force."
;;;;;

ALBERT EINSTEIN - NOBEL PRIZE WINNER IN PHYSICS
Nobel Prize: Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was awarded Nobel Prize in physics in 1921 - for his contribution to the development of quantum theory and "for the discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect." Einstein is one of the founders of modern physics, creator of the theory of relativity. In December 2000, the media (according to Reuters) called Einstein "the man of the second millennium."
Citizenship: Germany; was later a citizen of Switzerland and the United States.
Education: Doctor of Philosophy (physics), University of Zurich, Switzerland, 1905.
Professional activity: expert at the patent office, Bern, 1902-1908; Professor of Physics at the Universities of Zurich, Prague, Bern and Princeton (New Jersey).

You can see what other great scientists thought about GOD at http://www.scienceandapologetics.org/text/314.htm They believed in God: fifty Nobel laureates and other great scientists

Reviews

Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia
This article is about religious views Albert Einstein. For books with this title, see Einstein and Religion (disambiguation).

Albert Einstein's religious views have been widely studied. However, there are still debates and myths about his beliefs, views and attitude towards religion. He said that he believed in the “pantheistic” God of Benedict Spinoza, but not in a personified God - he criticized such a belief. He also called himself an agnostic, but rejected the label "atheist", preferring "a humility corresponding to the weakness of our understanding of nature by reason and of our own being."

Einstein was raised by non-religious Jewish parents. In his Autobiographical Notes, Einstein wrote that he gradually lost faith in early childhood:

...I - although I was the child of non-religious parents - was deeply religious until the age of 12, when my faith came to an abrupt end. Soon, thanks to reading popular science books, I became convinced that much of Bible stories can't be true. The consequence of this was a downright fanatical free-thinking, combined with the impression that the state was deceiving the youth; it was a devastating conclusion. Such experiences gave rise to distrust of all kinds of authorities and a skeptical attitude towards the beliefs and convictions that lived in the social environment that surrounded me at that time. This skepticism never left me, although it lost its sharpness later, when I better understood the cause-and-effect relationships. It is quite clear to me that the religious paradise of youth thus lost was the first attempt to free ourselves from the shackles of the “personal ego” from an existence dominated by desires, hopes, primitive feelings. There, outside, was this Big world, which exists independently of us, people, and is a huge eternal mystery for us, accessible, however, at least in part, to our perception and our mind. Contemplation of this world was liberating, and I soon became convinced that many of those whom I had learned to value and respect found their inner freedom and confidence by giving themselves entirely to this pastime. Mental coverage within the framework of the possibilities available to us of this extra-personal world, which seemed to me half consciously half unconsciously, as the highest goal. Those who thought this way, whether they were my contemporaries or people of the past, together with the conclusions they drew, were my only constant friends. The road to this paradise was not as convenient and attractive as the road to the religious paradise, but it turned out to be reliable, and I never regretted that I chose it
- Einstein, Albert (1979). Autobiographical Notes. Chicago: Open Court Publishing Company, pp. 3-5

And your article:
"I want to know how God created the world. I am not interested in certain phenomena in the spectrum of this or that element."

I also think this is the most important thing.
Who knows HOW? the world was created - he is the believer.
The rest are demagogues who deceive themselves and others. NK.

Albert Einstein: Quotes about Immoral Gods

Albert Einstein not only did not believe or even denied the existence of God, the belief in which is inherent in traditional monotheistic religions. Albert Einstein went even further - he argued that if such gods existed, and what religions say about them were true, then such gods could not be considered highly moral. Gods who rewarded good and punished evil would themselves be immoral - especially if they were omnipotent and therefore ultimately responsible for everything that happens. Gods who are characterized by human weaknesses cannot be virtuous gods.

1. Almighty God cannot judge humanity

If this being is omnipotent, then everything that happens, including all human actions, all human thoughts, feelings and aspirations, is also his work: how can people be held responsible for their actions and thoughts to such an omnipotent being? By punishing and rewarding others, it would, to a certain extent, make judgments on itself. How can this be reconciled with the goodness and righteousness that is attributed to him?

Albert Einstein, "From My later years", 1950

2. I don’t believe in a God who rewards good and punishes evil.

I do not believe in a theological god who rewards good and punishes evil.

3. I don’t believe in a God who has perceptions similar to ours.

I cannot imagine a god who rewards and punishes the creatures he creates, or who has a will akin to ours. Equally, I cannot and do not want to imagine anyone who would remain alive after his own physical death. Let cowardly people - out of fear or out of absurd selfishness - cherish such thoughts. Let the mystery of the eternity of life remain unsolved - it is enough for me to contemplate the wonderful structure of the existing world and strive to understand at least a tiny particle of the Main Cause that manifests itself in nature.

4. I can't believe in a God who reflects human weaknesses.

I cannot imagine a god who rewards those whom he himself created, those whose aspirations are similar to his own - in short, a god who is only a reflection human weaknesses. And I don’t believe at all that a person can survive the death of his body, although weak souls console themselves with such thoughts - out of fear and absurd selfishness.

Albert Einstein: Quotes about God Personified and Prayers

Albert Einstein viewed belief in a personal God as a child's fantasy.

Did Albert Einstein believe in God? Many believers cite Einstein as an example of an outstanding scientist who was a believer like them. And this supposedly refutes the idea that science is contrary to religion or that science is atheistic. However, Albert Einstein consistently and unequivocally denied belief in personal gods who answer prayers or take part in human affairs—the very kind of god worshiped by believers who claim that Einstein was one of them.

1.God is the fruit of human weakness

The word “god” for me is nothing more than a fruit and a manifestation of human weakness, and the Bible is a collection of worthy, but still childishly primitive legends. And no amount of even the most subtle interpretations will change my attitude towards them.

2. Albert Einstein and Spinoza’s God: harmony in the universe

I believe in Spinoza's God, who manifests himself in the ordered harmony of existence, and not in a God who is concerned with human destinies and actions.

Albert Einstein, in response to Rabbi Herbert Goldstein's question, “Do you believe in God?” (quoted in Victor Stenger’s book “Has Science Found God?”)

3. It's not true that I believe in a personal God.

This, of course, is a lie - what you read about my religious beliefs, a lie that is systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God, I have never denied this and have openly stated this. If there is anything in me that can be called religious, it is my boundless admiration for the structure of the world, as far as our science reveals it to us.

Albert Einstein, Letter to an Atheist (1954), quoted in Albert Einstein as a Man, edited by E. Dukas and B. Hofmann

4. Gods are created by human imagination

IN early period In the spiritual evolution of the human race, human imagination created gods similar to people themselves - gods to whose will the world around them is obedient.

Albert Einstein, quoted in 2000 Years of Unbelief, James Haught

5. The idea of ​​a personified god is baby talk

6. The idea of ​​a personal god cannot be taken seriously

It seems to me that the idea of ​​a personal god is an anthropological concept that I cannot take seriously. I also cannot imagine the existence of any will or purpose outside the human sphere... Science has been accused of undermining morality, but this accusation is unfair. A person's ethical behavior should be based on empathy, education, social connections and needs, and there is no need for any religious basis. A person will be on a bad path if his actions are restrained only by the fear of punishment and the hope of reward after death.

7. Faith in God is created by the desire to be guided and loved.

The desire for someone to show them the way, love and support leads people to form social or moral concepts about God. This is the god of providence, who protects, disposes, rewards and punishes; a god who, depending on the boundaries of the believer’s worldview, loves and cares about the lives of his fellow tribesmen or the entire human race, or in general all living things; comforts those who are sad and whose dreams have not come true; the one who preserves the souls of the dead. It is a social or moral concept of God.

8. Moral issues concern people, not gods.

I cannot imagine a personal god who would have a direct influence on the actions of people, or who would subject the creatures he himself created to judgment. I can’t imagine this even though I have modern science Some doubts have arisen regarding mechanistic causation. My religiosity consists in a reverent admiration for that higher spirit which is manifested in the little that we, with our weak and imperfect faculties, can comprehend about the world around us. Morality is of paramount importance, but for us, not for God.

Albert Einstein, quoted in Albert Einstein as a Man, edited by E. Dukas and B. Hofmann

9. Scientists are not inclined to believe in the power of prayer to supernatural beings.

Scientific research is based on the idea that everything that happens is determined by the laws of nature, and therefore this is also true for human actions. For this reason, the scientific researcher is unlikely to be inclined to believe that the course of events can be influenced by prayer, that is, a request addressed to a supernatural being.

Albert Einstein, 1936, responding to a child who asked in a letter whether scientists pray. Quoted in Albert Einstein: The Human Side, edited by Elena Duke and Banesh Hoffman

10. Few manage to rise above anthropomorphic gods

What all these types have in common is the anthropomorphic nature of their concept of God. As a rule, only a few, exceptionally gifted people, and exceptionally highly developed groups of people are able to rise significantly above this level. But there is a third stage of religious experience, which is common to all of them, although it is rarely found in pure form: I will call this cosmic religious feeling. It is very difficult to awaken this feeling in those who completely lack it - especially since there is no corresponding anthropomorphic concept of God.

11. The concept of a personified god is a major source of conflict

No one, of course, will deny that the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe existence of an omnipotent, just and all-good personal God is able to give man comfort, help and guidance, and also, due to its simplicity, it is accessible to even the most undeveloped minds. But, on the other hand, she also has weaknesses that are of a decisive nature, which were painfully felt from the very beginning of history.

12. Divine will cannot be the cause natural phenomena

How more people imbued with the ordered regularity of all events, the stronger becomes his conviction that next to this ordered regularity there is no place for causes of a different nature. For him, neither human nor divine will will be independent causes of natural phenomena. ...

Albert Einstein, Science and Religion, 1941

Albert Einstein: Quotes on Atheism and Freethinking: Was Einstein an Atheist, a Freethinker?

Albert Einstein didn't believe in any traditional gods, but is that atheism?

Believers who need the authority of a famous scientist sometimes claim that Albert Einstein was a religious man, but Einstein rejected the traditional concept of a personified god. Does this mean that Albert Einstein was an atheist? From a certain point of view, his position can be considered atheism or no different from atheism. He called himself a freethinker, which in Germany is considered the same thing as atheism, but it is unclear whether Einstein rejected all concepts of God.

1. From the Jesuit point of view, I am an atheist

I received your letter dated June 10th. I have never spoken to a Jesuit priest in my life, and I am amazed at the boldness with which such lies are told about me. From the point of view of a Jesuit priest, I am, of course, an atheist, and always have been an atheist.

Albert Einstein, from a letter to Guy Rahner Jr., July 2, 1945, in response to a rumor that a Jesuit priest had managed to persuade Einstein to renounce atheism. Quoted by Michael Gilmore in Skeptic Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 2

2. False Bible Claims Have Caused Skepticism and Freethinking

As I read popular science literature, I quickly became convinced that much of what was written in the Bible could not be true. The consequence was a completely fanatical orgy of free thought, to which was added the impression that these lies were deliberately used by the state to fool the youth; it was a crushing experience. The result was a distrust of all authority and a skeptical attitude towards the beliefs inherent in any social environment - an attitude that never left me, although it later softened as a result of a better understanding of cause-and-effect relationships.

Albert Einstein, Autobiographical Notes, edited by Paul Arthur Schlipp

3. Albert Einstein in defense of Bertrand Russell

Great minds always face fierce opposition from mediocre minds. Mediocrity fails to understand a person who refuses to bow blindly to accepted prejudices, but instead decides to speak his mind with courage and honesty.

Albert Einstein, from a letter to Morris Raphael Cohen, professor emeritus of philosophy at New York College, March 19, 1940. Einstein supported the appointment of Bertrand Russell to the teaching position.

4. Few people manage to avoid the prejudices inherent in their environment.

Few people are able to calmly express their views if they diverge from the accepted prejudices of their social environment. Most people are not even capable of forming such views.

Albert Einstein, Ideas and Opinions, 1954

5. A person’s value depends on the degree of his freedom from himself

The real value of a person is determined primarily by the extent and sense in which he has achieved liberation from himself.

Albert Einstein, The World as It Seems Me, 1949

6. Non-believers can be just as bigoted as believers.

The fanaticism of an unbeliever is almost as ridiculous to me as the fanaticism of a believer.

Albert Einstein, quoted in Einstein's God - Albert Einstein as a Scientist and as a Jew in Search of a Replacement for a Rejected God, 1997

7. I'm not a professional militant atheist.

I have said many times that in my opinion the idea of ​​a personal god is just baby talk. You may call me an agnostic because I do not share the militancy of a professional atheist whose ardor arises chiefly from the painful process of liberation from the shackles of the religious training of his youth. I maintain a humility appropriate to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and ourselves.

Albert Einstein in conversation with Guy Rahner, Jr., September 28, 1949, quoted by Michael Gilmore in Skeptic, Vol. 5, No. 2

Albert Einstein: Quotes about Life After Death: Einstein Denied an Afterlife

Albert Einstein denied life after physical death, the possibility of immortality and the presence of a soul

Belief in an afterlife and the existence of the soul are fundamental principles not only of most religions, but also of most spiritualist and paranormal beliefs today. Albert Einstein denied any validity to the belief that we can survive our physical death. Einstein believed that there is no afterlife, and after death there is neither punishment for crimes nor reward for good behavior. Albert Einstein's denial of the possibility of life after death gives reason to believe that he did not believe in any gods, and stems from his rejection of traditional religion.

1. I cannot imagine a person surviving his physical death.

I cannot imagine a god who rewards and punishes the creatures he creates, or who has a will akin to ours. Equally, I cannot and do not want to imagine someone who would remain alive after his own physical death. Let cowardly people - out of fear or out of absurd selfishness - cherish such thoughts. Let the mystery of the eternity of life remain unsolved - it is enough for me to contemplate the wonderful structure of the existing world and strive to understand at least a tiny particle of the Main Cause that manifests itself in nature.

Albert Einstein, The World as I See It, 1931

2. Weak souls believe in life after death out of fear and selfishness.

I cannot imagine a god who rewards those whom he himself created, those whose aspirations are similar to his own - in short, a god who is only a reflection of human weaknesses. And I don’t believe at all that a person can survive the death of his body, although weak souls console themselves with such thoughts - out of fear and absurd selfishness.

3. I don't believe in human immortality

I do not believe in the immortality of man, and I believe that ethics is a purely human matter, behind which there is no supernatural authority.

Quoted in Albert Einstein as a Man, edited by E. Dukas and B. Hofmann

4. After death there is no reward or punishment

A person's ethical behavior should be based on empathy, education, social connections and needs, and there is no need for any religious basis. A person will be on a bad path if his actions are restrained only by the fear of punishment and the hope of reward after death.

5. Only space is truly immortal

If people act well only out of fear of punishment and hope of reward, then our fate is sad. The further the spiritual evolution of humanity advances, the more confident I am that the path to true religiosity lies not through fear of life, fear of death and blind faith, but through the desire for rational knowledge. As for immortality, there are two types of it. ...

Albert Einstein, from Everything You Ever Wanted to Ask the American Atheists, Madeleine Murray O'Hair

6. The concept of soul is empty and meaningless

Modern mystical tendencies, which especially manifest themselves in the unbridled growth of so-called Theosophy and Spiritualism, are for me nothing more than a sign of weakness and confusion. Since our inner experience consists of reproductions and combinations of sensory impressions, the concept of a soul without a body seems empty and meaningless to me.

Belief in an afterlife and the existence of the soul are fundamental principles not only of most religions, but also of most spiritualist and paranormal beliefs today. Albert Einstein denied any validity to the belief that we can survive our physical death. Einstein believed that there is no afterlife, and after death there is neither punishment for crimes nor rewards for good behavior. Albert Einstein's denial of the possibility of life after death suggests that he did not believe in any gods and is part of his rejection of traditional religions.

Selection of quotes and translation from English by Lev Mitnik

Latest publications on related topics

A smart professor once asked a student an interesting question at university.
Professor: Is God good?
Student: Yes.
Professor: Is the Devil good?
Student: No.
Professor: Right. Tell me, son, does evil exist on Earth?
Student: Yes.
Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God created everything, right?
Student: Yes.
Professor: So who created evil?
Student: …
Professor: Is there ugliness, arrogance, disease, ignorance on the planet?
It's all there, right?
Student: Yes, sir.
Professor: So who created them?
Student: …
Professor: Science says that a person has 5 senses to
explore the world around. Tell me son, have you ever seen God?
Student: No, sir.
Professor: Tell us, did you hear God?
Student: No, sir.
Professor: Have you ever felt God? Have you tasted it? Did you smell it?
Student: I'm afraid not, sir.
Professor: And you still believe in him?
Student: Yes.
Professor: Based on the findings, science can claim that there is no God. Can you do anything against this?
Student: No, professor. I only have faith.
Professor: Exactly. Faith is the main problem Sciences.
Student: Professor, does cold exist?
Professor: What kind of question? Of course it exists. Have you ever been cold?
(The students laughed at the young man’s question)
Student: Actually, sir, there is no such thing as cold. In accordance with
laws of physics, what we consider cold in reality
is the absence of heat. A person or thing can be studied at
the subject of whether it has or transmits energy. Absolute zero (-273 degrees Celsius) is the complete absence of heat. All matter
becomes inert and unable to react at this temperature.
Cold doesn't exist. We created this word to describe what we
feel in the absence of heat.
(Silence fell in the audience)
Student: Professor, does darkness exist?
Professor: Of course it exists. What is night if not darkness:
Student: You are wrong again, sir. Darkness also does not exist. Darkness is actually the absence of light. We can study light, but not darkness. We can use a Newtonian prism to decompose White light into a variety of colors and explore the different wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple beam of light can break into a dark world and illuminate it. How can you know how dark any space is? You measure how much light is presented. Is not it? Darkness is a concept that humans use to describe what happens in the absence of light. Now tell me, sir, does death exist?
Professor: Of course. There is life, and there is death - its other side.
Student: You are wrong again, professor. Death is not back side life is its absence. In your scientific theory a serious crack appeared.
Professor: What are you getting at, young man?
Student: Professor, you teach students that we all came from monkeys. Have you observed evolution with your own eyes?
The professor shook his head with a smile, understanding where the conversation was going.
Student: No one saw this process, which means you are more of a priest and not a scientist.
(The audience exploded with laughter)
Student: Now tell me, is there anyone in this class who saw
Professor's brain? Have you heard it, smelled it, touched it?
(The students continued to laugh)
Student: Apparently, no one. Then, based on scientific facts, Can
conclude that the professor has no brain. Saving your presence,
Professor, how can we trust what you said in your lectures?
(Silence fell in the audience)
Professor: I think you just have to trust me.
Student: Exactly! There is one connection between God and man - FAITH!
The professor sat down.
This student's name was Albert Einstein.

A. EINSTEIN – ABOUT FAITH, ABOUT RELIGION, ABOUT SCIENCE...

“If Judaism (as preached by the prophets) and Christianity (as preached by Jesus Christ) are purged of all subsequent additions - especially those made by priests - what remains is a doctrine capable of healing all the social ills of mankind. And it is the duty of every person of good will to fight stubbornly in his own little world, to the best of his ability, for the implementation of this teaching of pure humanity.” (Albert Einstein, Ideas and Opinions, New York, Bonanza Books, 1954, 184-185).

“Anyone who seriously engages in science comes to the realization that in the laws of nature there is manifested a Spirit that is much higher than the human - a Spirit in the face of which we, with our limited powers, must feel our own weakness. In this sense, scientific research leads to a special kind of religious feeling, which really differs in many ways from a more naive religiosity.” (A statement made by Einstein in 1936. Quoted in Dukas and Hoffmann, Albert Einstein: The Human Side, Princeton University Press, 1979, 33).

“The deeper a person penetrates into the secrets of nature, the more he reveres God.” (Quoted in Brian 1996, 119).

“The most beautiful and profound experience that befalls a person is the feeling of mystery. It lies at the heart of true science. Anyone who has not experienced this feeling, who is no longer overwhelmed by awe, is practically dead. This deep emotional confidence in the existence of a higher intelligent power, revealed in the incomprehensibility of the Universe, is my idea of ​​God.” (Quoted in Libby Anfinsen 1995).

“Behind all the greatest achievements of science there is a confidence in the logical coherence and knowability of the world - a confidence that is akin to religious experience...” (Einstein 1973, 255).

“My religion consists of a feeling of humble admiration for the boundless intelligence that manifests itself in the smallest details of the picture of the world, which we are only able to partially comprehend and cognize with our minds.” (Saying made by Einstein in 1936. Quoted in Dukas and Hoffmann 1979, 66).

“The more I study the world, the stronger my faith in God.” (Quoted in Holt 1997).

Max Jammer, professor emeritus of physics and author of the biography Einstein and Religion (2002), argues that Einstein's well-known statement, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind,” is the quintessence of the great scientist's religious philosophy. (Jammer 2002; Einstein 1967, 30).

“In the Judeo-Christian religious tradition we find the highest principles that should guide all our aspirations and judgments. Our feeble powers are not sufficient to reach this higher goal, but it forms the sure foundation of all our aspirations and value judgments.” (Albert Einstein, Out of My Later Years, New Jersey, Littlefield, Adams and Co., 1967, 27).

“Despite all the harmony of the cosmos, which I, with my limited mind, am still able to perceive, there are those who claim that there is no God. But what irritates me most is that they quote me to support their views.” (Quoted in Clark 1973, 400; Jammer 2002, 97).

Einstein wrote about fanatical atheists:

“There are also fanatical atheists whose intolerance is akin to the intolerance of religious fanatics - and it comes from the same source. They are like slaves who still feel the weight of chains thrown off after a hard struggle. They rebel against the “opium of the people”—the music of the spheres is unbearable for them. The wonder of nature does not become less because it can be measured by human morals and human goals.” (Quoted in Max Jammer, Einstein and Religion: Physics and Theology, Princeton University Press, 2002, 97).

“True religion is true life, life with all the soul, with all its goodness and righteousness.” (Quoted in Garbedian 1939, 267).

“Strong mental activity and the study of God’s Nature are the angels that will guide me through all the hardships of this life, give me consolation, strength and uncompromisingness.” (Quoted in: Calaprice 2000, ch. 1).

Einstein's opinion about Jesus Christ was expressed in his interview with the American magazine The Saturday Evening Post (October 26, 1929):

“What influence did Christianity have on you?

— As a child, I studied both the Bible and the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am fascinated by the bright personality of the Nazarene.

—Have you read the book about Jesus written by Emil Ludwig?

— The portrait of Jesus painted by Emil Ludwig is too superficial. Jesus is so large-scale that it defies the pen of phrase-mongers, even very skilled ones. Christianity cannot be rejected just on the basis of a catchphrase.

— Do you believe in the historical Jesus?

- Of course! It is impossible to read the Gospel without feeling the real presence of Jesus. His personality breathes in every word. No myth has such a powerful vital force.”

In 1940, A. Einstein described his views in the journal Nature, in an article entitled “Science and Religion.” There he writes:

“In my opinion, a religiously enlightened person is one who, to the greatest extent possible, has freed himself from the fetters of egoistic desires and is absorbed in the thoughts, feelings and aspirations which he holds because of their suprapersonal character...whether or not an attempt is made to connect them with a divine being, for otherwise Buddha or Spinoza could not be considered religious personalities. The religiosity of such a person lies in the fact that he has no doubts about the significance and greatness of these superpersonal goals, which cannot be rationally justified, but do not need it... In this sense, religion is the ancient desire of humanity to clearly and fully understand these values ​​and goals and strengthen and expand their influence.”

Einstein wrote this letter on January 3, 1954, to philosopher Eric Gutkind, who sent him a copy of his book Choose Life: A Biblical Call to Rebellion. A year later, the letter was sold at auction and has remained in private collections ever since.

In the letter, Einstein proclaims: “The word god (the original spelling is preserved - Ed.) is for me just a manifestation and product of human weaknesses, and the Bible is a collection of venerable, but still primitive legends, which, nevertheless, are rather childish . Not even the most sophisticated interpretation can change this (for me).”

As you can see, the great physicist was so ambiguous in his statements that you can direct the scientist’s train of thought about faith so that it turns out that his opinion can coincide with both a believer and an atheist...

Albert Einstein is one of the greatest scientists whose discoveries go beyond classical physics. To this day, his views and beliefs remain authoritative and inspire millions of people around the world.

63 years after his death, debates about the life of this man, his attitude towards people, science, the Universe, God, and religion do not subside. These disputes often result in myths, as a result of which the thoughts of a genius are misinterpreted and even misquoted.

Based on Einstein's statements, let's try to understand one of the many aspects of his life - the spiritual. What did the great physicist think about the Universe, God, science and religion?

“God doesn't play dice”

Surely on the Internet you have come across a quote from Einstein more than once: “God does not play dice.” This is one of his most famous statements, and this phrase is almost constantly taken out of context. People usually see it as a confirmation of religious faith, as if Einstein admits that God exists and even believes in him. But in fact, the meaning behind this expression was completely different.

The quote was “pulled” from Einstein’s angry letter addressed to one of the fathers of quantum mechanics, physicist Max Born. The full sentence goes like this:

Quantum theory explains a lot, but in fact it does not bring us one step closer to the secrets of the Old Man, in any case, I am convinced that He does not play dice

With these words, Albert Einstein wanted to challenge his physicist colleagues who were developing a new theory - quantum mechanics (QM).

Einstein's disagreements with quantum mechanics are well known. His own General Theory of Relativity describes the Universe completely differently, and to agree with the new theory would mean for the physicist to betray his own.

Photo: F. Schmutzer/Color photo of Albert Einstein

The cornerstone of QM is the so-called Heisenberg uncertainty principle. It states that you cannot know both the position and momentum of a particle at the same time, that is, the more we know about one particular property, the less about the other (it will behave randomly). From this principle follows what shocked Einstein and with which he could not agree - any event in the quantum world is truly random. The scientist believed that this consideration introduces absurdity into the microworld.

The physicist sought a simpler explanation of the world. By the expression “God does not play dice,” Einstein did not mean a specific belief in the Almighty, it is simply a convenient metaphorical construction, meaning that there is nothing random in the world, everything is natural and should go as usual.

He argued that describing the movement of electrons in terms of their velocities and coordinates contradicts the uncertainty principle. And he said that there must be a fundamental physical factor with the help of which the quantum-mechanical picture of the microworld will return to the path of determinism (the doctrine of the regularity and causality of all events and phenomena).

Today we are beginning to understand how quantum mechanics works (transistors, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear energy). But the deeper we penetrate into it, the more convinced we are that we are going beyond classical physics. Perhaps Einstein was right about a fundamental physical factor, and there may indeed be a Master Law in the Universe that scientists have not yet discovered. In his letter to Born, Einstein wrote:

You believe in a god who plays dice. And I - into absolute law and order in an objectively existing world

What did Einstein believe?

It is known that when Einstein developed his Theory of Relativity, the equation he derived indicated that the Universe is expanding, it has a beginning. He did not like this idea, since it suggested that God might have had a hand in creating the cosmic expanses, so in his work the scientist introduced a “cosmological constant” to try to get rid of the “beginning”.

Others argue that Einstein introduced the “cosmological constant” into the equation for only one purpose: so as not to stand out from other scientists who supported the generally accepted theory of a stationary Universe at that time. In this way, the physicist simply reconciled his theory with what was then considered scientific truth.

However, after 4 years, when a decent amount of knowledge had been accumulated and enough evidence about the “beginning” had been collected, he reported that entering this constant was the worst mistake of his entire life.

Photo: NASA/Albert Einstein, like Spinoza, believed that God is the Unified Law of Physics, which creates harmony in the Universe

Evidence was obtained in California by Edwin Hubble, who confirmed that the Universe is expanding, and that at some point in history this expansion began. Albert Einstein once said:

Observing the harmony of the cosmos, I, with my limited human mind, am able to admit that there are still people who say that there is no God. But what really angers me is that they support such a statement with my quote

But here too we're talking about not about a personal god interacting with man through religious rituals, but rather about a certain order, the One beautiful law that governs the Universe. Einstein was not an atheist, but rather an agnostic who accepted the God of Spinoza (Dutch philosopher of the 17th century), a God who manifests himself in the natural harmony of existence. In 1931, in his book The World as I See It, Einstein wrote:

I cannot imagine a god who rewards and punishes the creatures he creates or has a will akin to ours. Equally, I cannot and do not want to imagine someone who would remain alive after his own physical death. Let cowardly people - out of fear or out of absurd selfishness - cherish such thoughts. Let the mystery of the eternity of life remain unsolved - it is enough for me to contemplate the wonderful structure existing world and strive to understand even a tiny particle of the Fundamental Cause that manifests itself in nature

To be completely convinced that Einstein never believed in a Christian, Jewish or any other god, just look at the scientist’s autobiographical notes. In them he says that he abandoned his religious beliefs as a child.

I - although I was the child of non-religious parents - was deeply religious until I was 12 years old. However, later, thanks to reading popular science books, I began to become convinced that much of the biblical stories could not be true, and my faith in God came to an end.

Is science a religion?

For Einstein, science occupied a significant place in his spiritual life; he tried to spiritualize it, because he believed that it was scientific knowledge- this is the language that will allow us to better experience the Universe.

“Although our minds are not yet able to fully understand all the wonders of the world around us, the attempt to do so brings us closer to God, and the more we learn about the Universe, the closer we become to it.”, the scientist believed.

We see that the Universe is organized in a wonderful way and obeys certain laws, but these laws themselves remain vague to us. Behind them there is some force unknown to us. I largely agree with Spinoza's pantheism, but most of all I respect him for his contribution to the development of modern philosophy, because he considered the soul and body as one thing, and not as two different entities

In 1930, Einstein published one of the most discussed essays of the time. In the journal The New He told the York Times about his cosmic religiosity. In particular, he said that the concepts of hell and heaven were alien to him, and shared his thoughts on the connection between religion and science.

The scientist argued that “despite the fact that the spheres of religion and science are themselves clearly distinguishable from each other, there is an interconnection between them. In my understanding, there can be no conflict between them. Although they are different from each other, sometimes they are still intertwined in this world.”.

A religiously enlightened person is one who has freed himself to the greatest extent possible from the fetters of egoistic desires and is absorbed in the thoughts, feelings and aspirations which he holds because of their suprapersonal character...whether or not an attempt is made to connect them with a divine being, for otherwise Buddha or Spinoza could not be considered religious personalities. The religiosity of such a person lies in the fact that he has no doubts about the significance and greatness of these superpersonal goals, which cannot be rationally justified, but do not need it... In this sense, religion is the ancient desire of humanity to clearly and fully understand these values ​​and goals and strengthen and expand their influence. If we accept these definitions of science and religion, then a conflict between them seems impossible. This is true because science can state “what is” and not “how it should be.”

Albert Einstein was a complex man with specific views on life that are not always easy to understand. However, to say that he followed Christianity, Judaism or any other religion is wrong. He constantly said that he did not identify himself with any religious movement. The scientist saw the laws of the Universe, which give it not only beauty, but also harmony, and believed that this was the manifestation of God.

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A. EINSTEIN – ABOUT FAITH, ABOUT RELIGION, ABOUT SCIENCE...

“If Judaism (as preached by the prophets) and Christianity (as preached by Jesus Christ) are purged of all subsequent additions - especially those made by priests - what remains is a doctrine capable of healing all the social ills of mankind. And it is the duty of every person of good will to fight stubbornly in his own little world, to the best of his ability, for the implementation of this teaching of pure humanity.” (Albert Einstein, Ideas and Opinions, New York, Bonanza Books, 1954, 184-185).

“Anyone who is seriously engaged in science comes to the realization that in the laws of nature there is manifested a Spirit that is much higher than the human, - a Spirit in the face of which we, with our limited powers, must feel our own weakness. In this sense, scientific research leads to a religious feeling a special kind, which really differs in many ways from more naive religiosity." (A statement made by Einstein in 1936. Quoted in Dukas and Hoffmann, Albert Einstein: The Human Side, Princeton University Press, 1979, 33).

“The deeper a person penetrates into the secrets of nature, the more he reveres God.” (Quoted in Brian 1996, 119).

“The most beautiful and profound experience that befalls a person is the feeling of mystery. It lies at the basis of true science. Anyone who has not experienced this feeling, who is no longer overwhelmed by awe, is practically dead. This deep emotional confidence in the existence of a higher intelligent power , revealing itself in the incomprehensibility of the Universe, is my idea of ​​God." (Quoted in Libby Anfinsen 1995).

“Behind all the greatest achievements of science there is a confidence in the logical harmony and knowability of the world - a confidence that is akin to religious experience ...” (Einstein 1973, 255).

“My religion consists of a feeling of humble admiration for the boundless intelligence that manifests itself in the smallest details of that picture of the world, which we are only able to partially grasp and know with our minds.” (Saying made by Einstein in 1936. Quoted in Dukas and Hoffmann 1979, 66).

“The more I study the world, the stronger my faith in God.” (Quoted in Holt 1997).

Max Jammer (professor emeritus of physics, author of the biographical book Einstein and Religion (2002), argues that Einstein’s well-known statement “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind” is the quintessence of the great scientist’s religious philosophy. (Jammer) 2002; Einstein 1967, 30).

"In the Judeo-Christian religious tradition we find the highest principles by which we must guide all our aspirations and judgments. Our feeble powers are not sufficient to reach this highest goal, but it forms the sure foundation of all our aspirations and value judgments." (Albert Einstein, Out of My Later Years, New Jersey, Littlefield, Adams and Co., 1967, 27).

“Despite all the harmony of the cosmos, which I, with my limited mind, am still able to perceive, there are those who claim that there is no God. But what irritates me most is that they quote me in support of their views.” (Quoted in Clark 1973, 400; Jammer 2002, 97).

Einstein wrote about fanatical atheists:

“There are also fanatical atheists, whose intolerance is akin to the intolerance of religious fanatics - and it comes from the same source. They are like slaves who still feel the weight of chains thrown off after a hard struggle. They rebel against the "opium of the people" - for them the music of the spheres is unbearable. The miracle of nature is not diminished because it can be measured by human morality and human goals." (Quoted in Max Jammer, Einstein and Religion: Physics and Theology, Princeton University Press, 2002, 97).

"True religion is true life, life with all the soul, with all its goodness and righteousness." (Quoted in Garbedian 1939, 267).

"Strong mental activity and the study of God's Nature are the angels that will guide me through all the hardships of this life, give me consolation, strength and uncompromisingness." (Quoted in: Calaprice 2000, ch. 1).

Einstein's opinion about Jesus Christ was expressed in his interview with the American magazine The Saturday Evening Post (October 26, 1929):

"What influence did Christianity have on you?

As a child, I studied both the Bible and the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am fascinated by the bright personality of the Nazarene.

Have you read the book about Jesus written by Emil Ludwig?

Emil Ludwig's portrait of Jesus is too superficial. Jesus is so large-scale that it defies the pen of phrase-mongers, even very skilled ones. Christianity cannot be rejected just on the basis of a catchphrase.

Do you believe in the historical Jesus?

Of course! It is impossible to read the Gospel without feeling the real presence of Jesus. His personality breathes in every word. No myth has such a powerful vital force."

In 1940, A. Einstein described his views in the journal Nature, in an article entitled “Science and Religion.” There he writes:

“In my opinion, a religiously enlightened person is one who, to the greatest extent possible, has freed himself from the fetters of egoistic desires and is absorbed in the thoughts, feelings and aspirations which he holds because of their superpersonal character...whether or not an attempt is made to connect them with a divine being, for otherwise it would be impossible to consider Buddha or Spinoza as religious personalities. The religiosity of such a person consists in the fact that he has no doubts about the significance and greatness of these superpersonal goals, which cannot be rationally justified, but this is not need... In this sense, religion is the ancient desire of humanity to clearly and fully realize these values ​​and goals and to strengthen and expand their influence."