Einstein letter dismissing God sells for $330,000 US

by Jarrett Martineau | May 15, 2008 at 02:56 pm

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God is nothing more than "primitive legends" and "childish superstitions"? With that kind of talk, Einstein's practically sounding like Nietzsche.

One has to wonder how Gutkind responded to Einstein's provocation.

A letter written by Albert Einstein in which he dismissed belief in God as a “product of human weaknesses” was auctioned off Thursday for more than $330,000 US, destroying previous selling records of letters by the renowned physicist.
The letter, written in German in 1954 to philosopher Eric Gutkind, was sold in London, England, by Bloomsbury Auctions to a private collector. It had initially been expected to fetch between $12,000 US and $16,000 US.

“It beats the world record for an Einstein letter by about four times," managing director Rupert Powell told the Guardian newspaper. "It's a massive difference."

In the letter, Einstein writes "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."

Einstein, who was Jewish, also rejects the notion that Jews were God’s chosen people

"For me, the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions," he wrote.

He added 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."

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edi KUO

at 19:58 on May 15th, 2008

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Albert Milliron

at 21:14 on May 15th, 2008

Einstien like many had differing view points on God thoughout his life. One time God is the sum total of all that exists, one time that God is not interested in Man, and one time God does not play dice. He was complex yet child like at the same time. Anyone with the first name Albert is genious.

Raúl Valladolid

at 22:19 on May 15th, 2008

Composition with base of the sculpture honoring to Einstein in Valladolid, Spain, Europe ... a point of humanization of a genius with something nice. Title: "Grandfather Einstein"

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bikerka33

at 14:04 on May 17th, 2008

eh, i don't know what is this mean...

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bikerka33

at 14:09 on May 17th, 2008

yes i know about einstein, but i dont lnow nothing about this site...

ThirdWise

at 05:28 on May 18th, 2008

Einstein was a very complexed induvidual. His behavior and thoughts will continue to cause great debate. His brain was obviously moving very quick.. When you discover greatness in so many ways like that it's very easy to get "a big head".........and everyone knows that the idea of faith and not being in control of your fate is not easy to swallow. You must kill all self-righteousness!!!!!! and that might be pretty easy for most, but when you're Albert freekin Einstein you know almost everything, it must be very hard to settle with something being beyond you.......!!!!

Gem Images

at 11:51 on May 21st, 2008

Bas relief found for sale on Diamond Princess cruise ship. In my opinion, he was a believer that the universe was created, and did not just happen. For over fourty years I have kept a copy of his letter to President Harry Truman supporting development of atomic energy, and the first fission bombs.

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