Christ's Influence on the World via St. Patrick

Albert Einstein's Spiritual Quagmire

10/30/2012

10-31-12

I often Quote Albert Einstein in light of his obvious wisdom in some areas and I like him because we both had a tough time with math. He overcome it and I, well let’s get on with today’s thought.

I think it is only fair to say Einstein failed miserably in life’s greatest test. Note this statement:

“The word of God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses. The Bible is a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation, no matter how subtle, can change this for me.”

I have never understood the near fanatical infatuation of Princeton University with Einstein. I understand he was a gentle old man who played the violin and was nice to professors and students alike, but what about God? What about His word?

A look into the personal world of Einstein gives a reasonable idea of his rejection of God and His Word. He understood that a belief in God and in His Word would demand a change in his personal life. This change would involve a dependence on God’s help through Christ to overcome his very human nature.

As I read about Al this passage came to mind; Romans 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”

Copyright © 2012 Larry Lilly

4 Comments

Oral Deckard link

10/30/2012 11:37:48 am

Like everyone else, Herrr Einstein (One Beer Mug) was much better at what he put his mind to than what he didn't. I'm sure that if he had put his mind to the important things in life he would have thought as clearly about them as he did about the less important things.

The example you have raised about Herr Onebeermug calls attention to two other important things. One is the purpose of the scientific method. Herr Einstein used it effectively on the things he was most concerned with. The scientific method serves very well to keep one's personal preferences from affecting one's conclusions.

But clearly Herr Einstein's personal preferences called the shots in other areas of his life, where stupidity was allowed free reign.

Herr Einstein was not anti-Christian like the current crop of Scientists. He was simply un-Christian, that is, an average Christian. He was a professing Christian, and is noted for his statement rejecting the major parts of Quantum Theory on the grounds that "God does not play dice with the universe."

But, like the average Christian, he didn't let that interfere with his personal life. As a professing Christian, he abandoned his wife and children to shack up with his aunt.

The second thing your example points out is that intelligence and stupidity are not opposites. Herr Einstein was clearly very intelligent. But he was also clearly very stupid in many areas outside his focus on physics.

The same intelligence could have been applied to these areas, and worked the same, but it was not.

From this it is clear that stupidity is the failure to use the intelligence God gave you. A truly unintelligent person is incapable of stupidity. Stupidity is reserved exclusively for those who could do better, but choose not to.

Oral Deckard link

10/30/2012 12:50:16 pm

Better say I spect!

Though Albert Einstein attended Catholic school as a child, and later made the statement "Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced thus to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly." he was not a professing Christian.

In fact, his statements on religion were as chaotic and scatter brained as the average person, showing none of the intellectual capability he was famous for in the area of physics.

For an average person of his time such statements would indicate stupidity, just ignorance. But for someone noted for his intellectual capability, the same statements indicate stupidity for the very reason that a little serious thought on the subject by him could have achieved much more than average.

Average performance by someone capable of far above average performance is what stupidity is made of.

Oral Deckard link

10/30/2012 12:50:34 pm

Oral Deckard link

10/30/2012 12:51:55 pm

Better say I spect!

Though Albert Einstein attended Catholic school as a child, and later made the statement found in Wikipedia "Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced thus to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly." he was not a professing Christian.

In fact, his statements on religion were as chaotic and scatter brained as the average person, showing none of the intellectual capability he was famous for in the area of physics.

For an average person of his time such statements would indicate stupidity, just ignorance. But for someone noted for his intellectual capability, the same statements indicate stupidity for the very reason that a little serious thought on the subject by him could have achieved much more than average.

Average performance by someone capable of far above average performance is what stupidity is made of.

Albert Einstein's Spiritual Quagmire

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