Original Sin?

Quote: Nareed

Ok, then I'm sorry I spoiled your joke.

Apology accepted :)

Quote: Albert Einstein

"There is harmony in the cosmos which I, with my limited human mind, am able to recognise, yet there are people who say there is no God. But what really makes me angry is that they quote me to support such views."

Einstein in a conversation with Hubertus zu Löwenstein, in Löwenstein’s bookTowards the Further Shore (London Victor Gollancz 1968)

Quote: FrGamble

Einstein in a conversation with Hubertus zu Löwenstein, in Löwenstein’s bookTowards the Further Shore (London Victor Gollancz 1968)

Quote: Albert Einstein

My position concerning God is that of an agnostic. I am convinced that a vivid consciousness of the primary importance of moral principles for the betterment and ennoblement of life does not need the idea of a law-giver, especially a law-giver who works on the basis of reward and punishment."

Letter from Einstein to Berkowitz, 1950

Quote: FrGamble

Einstein in a conversation with Hubertus zu Löwenstein, in Löwenstein’s bookTowards the Further Shore (London Victor Gollancz 1968)

LOL, you managed to find the most famous
Einstein quote that proves to every god
worshiper that Einstein believed in god.
He explained it later this way:

"It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly".

He said he was not an atheist in his early life,
then later said he was agnostic, and even later
than that he said you couldn't label him. He
was not a god believer, that's a fact.

You're like a prosecuting attorney, you have
somebody on the stand you and want to discredit
them because you think if you trip them up
it means they really think there is a god, only
they don't know it. The problem is, you are
not the moral authority here, you don't get
to decide who believes what. Those days are
are long gone for the Church. I'd thank your
god, but he had nothing to do with it. If
you wait long enough, common sense always
wins.

So do you think Einstein would agree with you that God cannot exist?

You are right I'm not a moral authority here, nor is Einstein or Asimov. Your only moral authority is you and only you can decide what you believe or not. I'm just asking you to think about it and broaden your horizons.

Quote: FrGamble

So do you think Einstein would agree with you that God cannot exist?
.

Don't care, it's enough that I know. And
there is no real moral authority, people
generally do what they want and that's it.

Give them a chance to steal the office
supplies and most will. Give them a
chance to cheat on their spouse and
a lot of them will. Get away with a
lie, you bet. Covet their neighbors
car, TV, riding lawn mower, do that
every day. You listen to confessions,
I bet you spend most of your time shaking
your head. There is no moral authority,
it's a fantasy.

What' I'm wondering is — why is it so important to religious people whether a famous scientist such as Einstein or Hawking believe in God?

Quote: FrGamble

Einstein in a conversation with Hubertus zu Löwenstein, in Löwenstein’s bookTowards the Further Shore (London Victor Gollancz 1968)

And if Einstein jumped off a bridge?

There is such a thing as authority. No one person can be even knowledgeable about all aspects of life or all scientific, political, economic and philosophical disciplines. Although one should strive to know at least a little about all of these, one will have to rely on authority for some information and to dispel some doubts. Just like one needs to know a bit about medicine in order to maintain good health, but one also needs a doctor when one falls ill.

But no one knows everything. When Einstein said something about physics, one should listen to him because that's his area of authority. Whatever opinions he may have had about, say, biology, politics, religion or history, may be well informed and well thought out, but then again they may not. Even a genius isn't smart about everything, nor is he always rational and unprejudiced at all times.

Therefore one should not accept uncritically anything, even in physics, merely because Einstein said it.

I said even in physics, because he did have this hang up about quantum mechanics. He had a really good point, and when I think about it I'm convinced he has to be right, and yet it seems he was wrong.

Ha, Nareed I have said the exact same thing multiple times when Evenbob has used the example of a whole bunch of famous scientists to in some way discredit belief in God. This is the first time I have ever quoted Einstein. Team Atheist has given entire posts to his quotes along with lots of other quotes from other scientists and no body said a word. Now Ace is telling me how ridiculous it is to quote a scientist to defend my position, why didn't anyone call out Evenbob for doing it?

Quote: FrGamble

Ha, Nareed I have said the exact same thing multiple times when Evenbob has used the example of a whole bunch of famous scientists to in some way discredit belief in God. This is the first time I have ever quoted Einstein. Team Atheist has given entire posts to his quotes along with lots of other quotes from other scientists and no body said a word. Now Ace is telling me how ridiculous it is to quote a scientist to defend my position, why didn't anyone call out Evenbob for doing it?

Padre - I am calling you out for quoting a scientist incorrectly to make it appear said scientist supported the theory that there is a God