[asa] Einstein = 1 for Dawkins

In today's news. Does this article nail it per Einstein's view on
religion? Sounds like Dawkins:

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."

...Bernie

RE:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080513/en_afp/britainreligionsciencejewsei
nstein_080513162159

Belief in God 'childish,' Jews not chosen people: Einstein letter

Tue May 13, 12:21 PM ET

LONDON (AFP) - Albert Einstein described belief in God as "childish
superstition" and said Jews were not the chosen people, in a letter to
be sold in London this week, an auctioneer said Tuesday.

The father of relativity, whose previously known views on religion have
been more ambivalent and fuelled much discussion, made the comments in
response to a philosopher in 1954.

As a Jew himself, Einstein said he had a great affinity with Jewish
people but said they "have no different quality for me than all other
people".

"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.

"No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this," he
wrote in the letter written on January 3, 1954 to the philosopher Eric
Gutkind, cited by The Guardian newspaper.

The German-language letter is being sold Thursday by Bloomsbury Auctions
in Mayfair after being in a private collection for more than 50 years,
said the auction house's managing director Rupert Powell.

In it, the renowned scientist, who declined an invitation to become
Israel's second president, rejected the idea that the Jews are God's
chosen people.

"For me the Jewish religion like all others is an incarnation of the
most childish superstitions," he said.

"And 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."

And he added: "As far as my experience goes, they are 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."

Previously the great scientist's comments on religion -- such as
"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind" --
have been the subject of much debate, used notably to back up arguments
in favour of faith.

Powell said the letter being sold this week gave a clear reflection of
Einstein's real thoughts on the subject. "He's fairly unequivocal as to
what he's saying. There's no beating about the bush," he told AFP.

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Received on Tue May 13 18:51:21 2008