Albert Einstein’s ‘God Letter’ Was Auctioned For $3M, It Reveals His Eye-Opening Stance On Religion
On December 4th, Albert Einstein’s “God letter”, addressed to the philosopher Eric Gutkind, was auctioned off for $2,892,500 and became the most expensive Einstein letter ever sold.
More info: christies.com
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who transformed humankind’s understanding of nature and the universe. He laid the foundation for modern physics and changed the views on space, time, energy and mass. He is best known for proposing the theory of relativity and his mass-energy equivalence formula. In 1921 Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics “for his services to theoretical physics and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect”.
However, his achievements in physics were not his only contributions people took interest in. Einstein’s views on religion have always been of interest, as many people sought to understand his beliefs. Finally, in 2008 a letter was released to the public, in which the famous scientists made a powerful statement on religion.
This testimonial of the famous scientist’s views on religious was written in January of 1954, just a year before his death. The so-called “God letter” was addressed to Gutkind as a response to his book “Choose Life: The Biblical Call to Revolt”.
The letter became one of a few sources that defined Einstein’s stance on religion.
Read the English translation of the letter below
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Share on FacebookMy brain hurts after reading a few words and skipping it all to write this comment...XD
Go back and read it all - a brilliant mind telling it like it is. Although I had to google "monotheism" I learned one fact this afternoon
Load More Replies...My guess is that Einstein didn't convince Gutkind to change his beliefs just as Gutkind didn't convince Einstein. And if you didn't believe in God before now, Albert just reinforced your view and if you believed in God, he likely didn't change anything. So, really, in the grand scheme, nothing new here.
So, the only reason to discuss something with someone is the hope to convince the other person that you are right and they are wrong ?!? You can't just exchange points of view, agree to disagree and have a good time getting to know someone better ? Different people with different mindsets can like to talk to each other, just to get a glimpse of the way THEY see the world, inside and out !
Load More Replies...Any religious group or following who would kill or have killed members of another religious faith purely because of their beliefs should be banned on humanitarian grounds. This includes almost every religion you can mention that exists in the modern world. But it wont happen and the circle of killing in the name of gods will go on.
Load More Replies...Religion and god have always been convenient excuses . . . The Crusades, conquering the New World. The hierarchy in any religion found a way to use guilt to get things for free. Nice work if you can get it!
I must confess I'm surprised : I was convinced Einstein was religious in his own way, at least what we call now a spiritual person.
I'll bet whoever sold the letter for 2.8 million is a believer. I'll write a letter about my beliefs for a lousy 2 grand. Plus I'm flexible, I'll believe whatever you want me to.
Einstein makes sense- religious fanatics, nut jobs, gunowners (of 50 weapons) and Trump supporters please prove me wrong
Sorry, but in which way is it eye-opening? I am hearing this sort of arguments all the time and honestly, I would expect more of a man who came up with theory of relativity.
Prove your god exists or expect not to be taken seriously.
Load More Replies...How precious to me are your thoughts! How vast is the sum of them. If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.
"When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property." (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)
Load More Replies...But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
"However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way." (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)
Load More Replies...Sorry but no scientist, no matter how brilliant, will ever be able to sway me from my beliefs. Personally I think scientists and atheists are too self involved and entitled to want to believe there is something bigger than us out there. What's so weak about believing in a God who loves you and believing in an afterlife with Him? Living your whole life believing in nothing than what is in front of you and believing in nothing after death is sad.
Not true. Everyone think their views are better than the opposing. Just like you did with your comment.
Load More Replies...I am a Christian and it makes me very sad that one day in heaven I will not see Mr Albert Einstein or any of you that call Christianity not real
Nah, we just don't like you guys 'spreading the word' at us all the time. : )
Load More Replies...You are suggesting that us nonbelievers lack moral standards just because we don't have a belief in a god like you do. If that is the case, why are so many religious people so disgustingly immoral?
Load More Replies...My brain hurts after reading a few words and skipping it all to write this comment...XD
Go back and read it all - a brilliant mind telling it like it is. Although I had to google "monotheism" I learned one fact this afternoon
Load More Replies...My guess is that Einstein didn't convince Gutkind to change his beliefs just as Gutkind didn't convince Einstein. And if you didn't believe in God before now, Albert just reinforced your view and if you believed in God, he likely didn't change anything. So, really, in the grand scheme, nothing new here.
So, the only reason to discuss something with someone is the hope to convince the other person that you are right and they are wrong ?!? You can't just exchange points of view, agree to disagree and have a good time getting to know someone better ? Different people with different mindsets can like to talk to each other, just to get a glimpse of the way THEY see the world, inside and out !
Load More Replies...Any religious group or following who would kill or have killed members of another religious faith purely because of their beliefs should be banned on humanitarian grounds. This includes almost every religion you can mention that exists in the modern world. But it wont happen and the circle of killing in the name of gods will go on.
Load More Replies...Religion and god have always been convenient excuses . . . The Crusades, conquering the New World. The hierarchy in any religion found a way to use guilt to get things for free. Nice work if you can get it!
I must confess I'm surprised : I was convinced Einstein was religious in his own way, at least what we call now a spiritual person.
I'll bet whoever sold the letter for 2.8 million is a believer. I'll write a letter about my beliefs for a lousy 2 grand. Plus I'm flexible, I'll believe whatever you want me to.
Einstein makes sense- religious fanatics, nut jobs, gunowners (of 50 weapons) and Trump supporters please prove me wrong
Sorry, but in which way is it eye-opening? I am hearing this sort of arguments all the time and honestly, I would expect more of a man who came up with theory of relativity.
Prove your god exists or expect not to be taken seriously.
Load More Replies...How precious to me are your thoughts! How vast is the sum of them. If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.
"When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property." (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)
Load More Replies...But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
"However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way." (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)
Load More Replies...Sorry but no scientist, no matter how brilliant, will ever be able to sway me from my beliefs. Personally I think scientists and atheists are too self involved and entitled to want to believe there is something bigger than us out there. What's so weak about believing in a God who loves you and believing in an afterlife with Him? Living your whole life believing in nothing than what is in front of you and believing in nothing after death is sad.
Not true. Everyone think their views are better than the opposing. Just like you did with your comment.
Load More Replies...I am a Christian and it makes me very sad that one day in heaven I will not see Mr Albert Einstein or any of you that call Christianity not real
Nah, we just don't like you guys 'spreading the word' at us all the time. : )
Load More Replies...You are suggesting that us nonbelievers lack moral standards just because we don't have a belief in a god like you do. If that is the case, why are so many religious people so disgustingly immoral?
Load More Replies...
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