Sunday, September 4, 2011

Sunday's Quote: Einstein and the Nazarene

Many great men, including several of our Founding Fathers such as Franklin and Jefferson, have maintained conflicting views on God – and more specifically, Christianity – since the religion was established some two millennia ago.  While the man quoted below was not a convert, he also rejected the many claims about his purported atheism.  Here's the man himself to better explain his position.

----------------------------------------

"To what extent are you influenced by Christianity?  'As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud.  I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene.'  You accept the historical existence of Jesus?  'Unquestionably!  No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus.  His personality pulsates in every word.  No myth is filled with such life.'"
– Albert Einstein, responding to poet, writer and eventual Nazi propagandist George Sylvester Viereck; from TIME's "Einstein &Faith" (published April 5, 2007), reprinted from Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson

And remember y'all, to reference an old Christian addage:

Jacob cheated.  Peter had a temper.  David had an affair.  Noah was a drunk.  Jonah ran from God.  Paul committed murder (as did David).  Gideon was insecure.  Miriam was a gossip.  Martha worried.  Thomas, of course, doubted.  Sarah was impatient.  Elijah was moody.  Moses stuttered.  Zachaeus was short.  Abraham was old.  And Lazarus was dead.

But God used them all.

3 comments:

Jake said...

Thanks for pointing out that Einstein is often mislabeled an atheist to this day. The man was anything but.

Evan said...

Nice try but the atheists will claim Einstein no matter what.

Melinda R. said...

Amen.