Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Einstein's Theory of Spiritual Relativity

I saw today that a letter written by Albert Einstein shortly before his death is being auctioned off. In this letter, the genius of quantum physics and originator of the theory of relativity expresses some of his views on religion and spiritual things. Here's a quote:

"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish....For me, the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions."

Sounds pretty familiar, doesn't it? Einstein certainly was a brilliant man, with a mind that could grasp and process knowledge and logic and equations far beyond the capacity of most human beings. He was absolutely certain about the laws and facts and operations of the physical universe that he observed and studied and hypothesized on how it behaves. In fact, he stated earlier in his life the following:

"I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil. My God created laws that take care of that. His universe is not ruled by wishful thinking, but by immutable laws."

Here we see Einstein's perspective more clearly. Not so much totally rejecting the reality of God, but certainly rejecting the moral reality of God. His observations of the creation led him to an understanding of the fact of unchanging and absolute physical laws that govern the universe's behavior. But seeing also the moral realm as simply an expression of that physical universe, and not as anything spiritual in and of itself. As he stated above, the spiritual or religious realm is just a set of superstitions invented by mankind out of weakness.

I dare say that the good Dr. Einstein knows without doubt the real truth today, given that he has passed from the purely physical realm into that which is ultimately real, the eternal spiritual realm. He has met the God of immutable laws face to face. And he has realized that this God not only instituted unchanging physical laws, but also absolute moral laws. And Einstein has also come face to face with the fact of his lack of attaining to those immutable moral laws and standards. He has come to know the truth of 1 Corinthians 1:18 which states, "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing..." The words of Einstein's letter are an incredible proof of what we see in 1 Corinthians 1:21 - "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."

Einstein may have brilliantly discovered and described the relative relationships between energy and matter. But he certainly failed to apprehend the relative relationship between the One True God and His moral reality, and the moral aspects of us as His created beings.

1 comment:

Darin said...

Just another example of the knowledge of men as compared to the knowledge of the divine my brother.

All of Albert's so called intelligence God merely sees as foolishness.

As scripture says, 'God is no respecter of persons', and I have little doubt that Albert has now had an attitude adjustment.

Dar.