Schizophrenia : if they disbelieve science, what’s the problem with Einstein being an atheist?
At her blog on the design of life and other matters, Denyse O’Leary seems to be bored by the fact that Einstein could have been an atheist :
Albert Einstein’s letter coming up at auction: Does it show that he was an atheist? (I think that’s just a publicity ploy.)
This is a reference to the text of Albert Einstein :
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.
The bold part share a striking ressemblance with some parts of the preface of Hegel Phänomenologie des Geistes, by the way.
What is the problem? Well, about 120% of the time of pro-ID people is dedicated to proving that science (I don’t mean just evolution, I mean physics, environmentalism, global warming science, neurosciences, psychiatry, among other) is plain bullshit.
If it is, why be puzzled by the fact that one of the most emblematic figure of science was an atheist?
Because ID want to be considered as a science, and they need to proove that their middle-age beliefs are perfectly compatible with science. So, the fact that great — emblematic — scientists are/were atheists is seen as a defeat of their way of thinking.
You’re right, that’s schizophrenia…
I must admit I really don’t understand what you are talking about most of the time – still I will make two points. First Einstein, who was brought up Jewish, later became an atheist and in fact if you read Richard Dawkins ‘The God delusion’ he talks about this very subject. Einstein referred to God a lot but this God what not the one presented by religion rather nature, the god that was in essence the natural laws that made everything work. I remember reading when I was younger a lot of angry letters sent to the New York Times directed at Einstein’s lack of belief in religion.
The second point was I don’t agree at all that those who support the idea of intelligent design reject science, even if they say they do. Let’s be really honest here fundamental Christians don’t reject medical science, they still go to a doctor when they are sick. They don’t reject technology, which came about mostly through scientific investigation; otherwise they simply never have the means to bother us. Supporters of ID have a willingness to accept science, as long as it does not interfere with their version of the ultimate God otherwise they will defer back to it. The lack of willingness to accept global warming is not simply the result of belief in ID, most of the time it has more to do with stupidity and laziness.
We both know that ID has nothing to do with Science! Make that point!
therationalunderstanding
May 16, 2008 at 11:22 am
Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation
Anyway … nice blog to visit.
cheers, Reminiscences
Reminiscences
June 19, 2008 at 1:25 pm