This is a follow-on to last Saturday's post. It's not exactly part 2, but a continuation of the thought process.
In May, the Telegraph printed a short article concerning a letter written by Einstein about a year before he died, detailing his thoughts about God and religion. From the article:
In the letter, dated January 3 1954, he wrote: "The word god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weakness, 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."
The New York Times reported that it sold for $404,000 at auction, 25 times its estimated auction price.
Einstein is the icon of the Smart Guy, and you gotta listen to what a smart guy says, right?
Riffing off the 20th century concept of scientist as modern prophet, religious types have tentatively employed the big E's many mystical statements as subtle, science-approved backing of their religious beliefs for a while now. Because if Einstein believes in some bigger presence beyond the sky, then who are you, Mr. Fancy-Pants Hitchens?
I can spot at least two things wrong with that scenario, and I'm pretty sure there are more.
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