Sunday, February 16, 2014

Albert Einstein believed that the laws of nature were designed by an intelligence. This belief was formed by his experiences working as a scientist.


I have updated my web page on Eminent Researchers to include the following section on Albert Einstein.

Albert Einstein
(Nobel Prize for Physics)

From Wikipedia
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist and violinist. He developed the general theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics).[2][3] While best known for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2 (which has been dubbed "the world's most famous equation"),[4] he received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect".[5] The latter was pivotal in establishing quantum theory.

Einstein is often mistakenly identified as an atheist. The confusion comes from the fact that he did not believe in a personal god. But, because of his experiences studying nature during his career as a scientist, Einstein believed that natural laws were designed by an intelligence.

These quotes by Einstein from Wikiquote explain his beliefs:

I believe in Spinoza's God, Who reveals Himself in the lawful harmony of the world, not in a God Who concerns Himself with the fate and the doings of mankind.

...

My religiosity consists in a humble admiration of the infinitely superior spirit that reveals itself in the little that we, with our weak and transitory understanding, can comprehend of reality.

This next quote shows that Einstein's beliefs were not merely based on faith but were shaped by his experiences working as a scientist.

On the other hand, however, every one who is seriously engaged in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that the laws of nature manifest the existence of a spirit vastly superior to that of men, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.

Did Einstein Believe in God? by John Marsh provides a very detailed discussion demonstrating the fact that Einstein believed in God. Marsh writes:

To sum up: Einstein was – like Newton before him – deeply religious and a firm believer in a transcendent God.

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