Einstein calls Bible Childish

[lil5up3rman]

Just thought this was interesting, never knew this about him. Daniel.

http://www6.comcast.net/articles/new...instein.bible/

[angel0430]

I don't like to talk about religion stuff

[JayJagFan]

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[streicher187]

I have to agree with old Al ..

[hoeser]

I am not a fan of religion and political talk here but freedom of speech prevails. lol

[OnePimpTiger]

I've got a few issues with his thoughts.

First of all, most morals, parables, lessons, etc are childish and primitive....but they're still true. Aesop's Fables, the Tortoise and the Hare, the Three Little Pigs, etc, etc, etc are all children's stories, but the points they make aren't any less true because of that. The reason they're told that way is because they are relating basic ideas that are present in everyones lives. You can make the stories a lot more complex, but why when it's unnecessary? If you keep it simple, more people can understand it...

Addressing the idea that the Jews are God's chosen people, Einstein wrote that "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. As far as my experience goes, they are also 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."

His way of thinking there is a bit naive to me. Firstly, why does something have to be better than the others to be chosen...many things are chosen based on merit, but there are a lot of things that you choose just because you choose them. It may have something to do with the fact that Einstein had a very analytical mind and looked at everything scientifically, who knows. Secondly, Jesus was born a Jew, so why wouldn't they be God's chosen people. I'm from the South...there's nothing that makes southern people better than any one else in the US and many would argue (incorrectly) that they're inferior to others, yet they would be my chosen people because that's who I am...there's no statistical reason or empirical evidence as to why I would choose them, that's just the way it is. All that aside, I don't really see how would make someone think religion is childish or not though...

But, he also said: "I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil. My God created laws that take care of that. His universe is not ruled by wishful thinking, but by immutable laws."

This is what Christianity believes as well...true Christianity. God did create laws regarding who is "rewarded" by getting into Heaven and who is "punished" by being sent to Hell...it's called Salvation. It doesn't matter how good you are or how many great deeds you perform, you have to be saved to get into Heaven. And conversely, it doesn't matter how bad you've been or how many terrible things you've done, if you ask Jesus to save you, you don't have to go to Hell. In fact the Bible says that man can't get into Heaven by good deeds alone...So God doesn't sit there judging each person based on if they've been good or bad, He has set up "immutable laws" that are followed without exception.

I tried not to get preachy and I hope I haven't come across that way...just wanted to point out some things. I expect my post won't be too popular, but ah well...neither was the crazy round Earth idea at one time....

[JayJagFan]

I expect my post won't be too popular, but ah well...neither was the crazy round Earth idea at one time....

Why wouldn't your post be popular? Christianity is the most populated religion on Earth. It's not like you're "going against the grain" by expressing your Christian beliefs. The parallel you tried to draw to the Earth being flat/round concept doesn't really make sense considering people who believed the Earth was round were in minority and Christianity is, in fact, the majority.

I hope it doesn't seem like I'm trying to attack you or your religion, but it just bothers me when Christians act like they're "defying the odds" or "standing up against popular belief" when they talk about their religion...because the reality is, over one third of this world is Christian.

[OnePimpTiger]

Well I didn't feel it would be popular because everyone who had posted before me seemed to either be against religion or didn't want to talk about it....so it seemed like I was "going against the grain" to a point. But I wasn't referring to the world or America in general.

And the Earth being flat/round concept correlation probably was a bit off...it was 2 hours past my bedtime and I was just trying to think of something that wasn't too popular...forgive me. To be honest, I didn't even really think about the last paragraph as I was typing it, the points I was trying to make were were in the rest of the post.

I didn't take your post as a personal attack and I hope you won't take this as one either, you're certainly not the first or last to do this: it bothers me when I'm discussing something and the other person/people avoid responding to the main points I make and focus more on semantics and/or switch directions without addressing the points that were made. I say this because I wasn't trying to stand up for my beliefs, I didn't feel like Christianity needed someone to defend it, and I wasn't even thinking about whether Christianity is a majority belief or not, which is what you focused on in your response...I simply read the article and disagreed with some of the rationale behind what Einstein said. And honestly, I feel everything I said aside from the last paragraph is appropriate whether I'm a Christian or not...to me, it was a question of logic, not whether or not you believe in it.

[JayJagFan]

Well I didn't feel it would be popular because everyone who had posted before me seemed to either be against religion or didn't want to talk about it....so it seemed like I was "going against the grain" to a point. But I wasn't referring to the world or America in general.

And the Earth being flat/round concept correlation probably was a bit off...it was 2 hours past my bedtime and I was just trying to think of something that wasn't too popular...forgive me. To be honest, I didn't even really think about the last paragraph as I was typing it, the points I was trying to make were were in the rest of the post.

I didn't take your post as a personal attack and I hope you won't take this as one either, you're certainly not the first or last to do this: it bothers me when I'm discussing something and the other person/people avoid responding to the main points I make and focus more on semantics and/or switch directions without addressing the points that were made. I say this because I wasn't trying to stand up for my beliefs, I didn't feel like Christianity needed someone to defend it, and I wasn't even thinking about whether Christianity is a majority belief or not, which is what you focused on in your response...I simply read the article and disagreed with some of the rationale behind what Einstein said. And honestly, I feel everything I said aside from the last paragraph is appropriate whether I'm a Christian or not...to me, it was a question of logic, not whether or not you believe in it.

I agree with everything else you said. I'm not going to try to address what you said regarding Christianity, because, quite frankly, I've never been a "true Christian" or any other type of Christian for that matter, and I feel it would be a little disrespectful to argue with you about the context of your own religion of which I am not even a member.

[streicher187]

To me the bible is just like Aesop's Fables they are good life lessons but just stories, The only difference is that more harm has/will be done from religion than the other "childish stories". The only thing setting the Bible apart from Aesop's Fables is the large percentage of the world that believes it to be true bases on Faith (not on any actual evidence).. Fables and other stories also don't teach hate like religion and the bible does , the old testimate is one of the most hate filled books I have ever read. (I did a speech on it in high school and teacher failed me because he said book was not fiction(which was what the report was supposed to be on)).

Everyone is entitled to have their beliefs and faiths and I accept that (and that in some situations it can be a good thing). But what annoys me is when someone like Bill Maher expresses his views on christianity the demand he be pulled off the air and apologize for comments that for the most part were 100% True.. And on the flip side it annoys me with the people who are trying to get In God we trust off the dollar and God out of the Pledge.. If you don't believe(like me) it's simple keep your mouth shut during that part of the pledge and let the people who do believe say it, and if they have such a problem with it on dollars they can give them to me:)...

PS the bible I read was one I found in the attic from 1890's(don't know how much it's changed since then) it is about 10lbs and has some of the nicest artwork I have ever seen one of these days I will have to scan some of the pages.. (it has the old/new testimate at the same time one side of page is old one side is new)..