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Renowned physicist Albert Einstein. (Archive)
Last update - 19:02 13/05/2008
Einstein: Nothing 'chosen' about the Jews, Bible 'childish' legends
By Bradley Burston, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Judaism, Bible, God, Einstein

Albert Einstein, writing in 1954, dismissed Judaism and other religions as "an incarnation of the most childish superstitions," though he said he gladly belonged to the Jewish people and felt a deep affinity for the Jews' "mentality," excerpts published on Tuesday showed.

Einstein also said he saw nothing "chosen" about the Jews, and that they were no better than other peoples "although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power."

The renowned physicist, who died a little more than a year after writing the letter, also had tough words for God and the Bible, according to the text published by the British The Guardian daily.
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"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," the letter was quoted as saying. "No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this."

The letter, written in German in January, 1954 to philosopher Eric Gutkind, is to be auctioned in London on Thursday, the paper said. Written in Einstein's hand, the letter, which has been in private hands for more than half a century, reportedly could sell for as much as 8,000 pounds sterling.

Turning to Judaism, Einstein wrote that "For me the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions. And 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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      1.   LOL 17:23  |  Danite 13/05/08
      2.   Einstein 17:35  |  avi Yerushalmi 13/05/08
      3.   Albert Einstein was a very wise man......... 17:43  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/05/08
      4.   That`s it, pass the chaza 17:48  |  Mordy 13/05/08
      5.   Since 1954 17:51  |  Steve G 13/05/08
      6.   #1 - your post seems only half complete .. please finish it ! 17:51  |  redmike 13/05/08
      7.   All too true on one point 17:53  |  Aaron Levitt 13/05/08
      8.   No more Master Races No more Chosen people 17:55  |  The Cancer 13/05/08
      9.   as usual... 17:56  |  dan 13/05/08
      10.   avi... 17:57  |  oy vey 13/05/08
      11.   religions in general 17:58  |  Vicky 13/05/08
      12.   Einstein,thed Albert 17:58  |  Shmuelshachor 13/05/08
      13.   Jews are No Longer Protected from the Worst Cancers.... 17:58  |  TruthShallSetUFree 13/05/08
      14.   Still he was a great scientist 18:09  |  x-ray 13/05/08
      15.   Einstein, please answer 18:15  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/05/08
      16.   He relized this at what age? 18:20  |  Yochonan Kohen Godol 13/05/08
      17.   Don`t wait Cipora Julianna Kohn ... .. . 18:22  |  Carl 13/05/08
      18.   Cipora 18:22  |  Aaron Levitt 13/05/08
      19.   oy vey #10 18:23  |  Avi Yerushalmi 13/05/08
      20.   word to einstein 18:25  |  simon doerksen 13/05/08
      21.   Swiss Dino 18:29  |  bar 13/05/08
      22.   Einstein was a GENIOUS but he did not have all the answers 18:33  |  Bengurion 13/05/08
      23.   Steve G 18:33  |  bar 13/05/08
      24.   To # 2 They did examine his brain. He was right 18:35  |  L A 13/05/08
      25.   Einstein on Israel 18:37  |  jm 13/05/08
      26.   Carl and Aaron 18:38  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/05/08
      27.   E (Einstein) = m (memorable) x c (childlikewonder) squared 18:40  |  Lavi 13/05/08
      28.   Einstein had it right. 18:41  |  Shahid 13/05/08
      29.   But then, in 1965 radar telescopes proved the Ramban correct 18:42  |  Allon 13/05/08
      30.   to #15 18:42  |  pete 13/05/08
      31.   Einstein never answered this major Question... 18:45  |  Allon 13/05/08
      32.   Cipora again 18:47  |  Aaron Levitt 13/05/08
      33.   einstein 18:47  |  b 13/05/08
      34.   A Question for Nietsche & Darwin 18:47  |  Allon 13/05/08
      35.   Allon & the answer to your question 18:50  |  Eric 13/05/08
      36.   Einstein: Nothing chosen about the Jews ... 18:51  |  Henk 13/05/08
      37.   So why is it wrong to kill? 18:52  |  Allon 13/05/08
      38.   # 21 bar 18:53  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/05/08
      39.   Didn`t Einstein say G-d doesn`t play dice with the universe? 18:54  |  Barry 13/05/08
      40.   Fascinating questions for astonomists, scientists & Einstein 19:02  |  curious 13/05/08
      41.   Einstein has also rejected his newborn first child,as she would 19:05  |  Absolute Sweden 13/05/08
      42.   Not "chosen people", but `Choosing People" 19:09  |  Phillipe T. Lucre 13/05/08
      43.   Allon-Rambam & Ethics 19:11  |  Urgyen Dorjé 13/05/08
      44.   LA # 24 19:12  |  Avi Yerushalmi 13/05/08
      45.   Eric and the A to your Q + the Q to your A 19:12  |  Allon 13/05/08
      46.   Chosen? Rather not be. 19:13  |  Miransky 13/05/08
      47.   What does it say about Einstein? 19:22  |  d 13/05/08
      48.   40 curious,the Hindu theory is that there was no beginning and 19:26  |  lakshmi 13/05/08
      49.   How true! It is time people abandoned outmoded ideas! 19:28  |  lakshmi 13/05/08
      50.   Urgyen, very philosophically put 19:30  |  Allon 13/05/08
      51.   Einstein 19:33  |  Stefan Bálint 13/05/08
      52.   To Dino 19:34  |  Ariel 13/05/08
      53.   dino , # 38 19:35  |  bar 13/05/08
      54.   Curious -- your question is meaningless 19:40  |  Jordan 13/05/08
      55.   Henk , in Petach Tikva 19:42  |  bar 13/05/08
      56.   Switzerland is a peaceful nation says Dino - #38 19:44  |  Kate 13/05/08
      57.   Lakshmi - that is absolute Tripe 19:44  |  Allon 13/05/08
      58.   Bible is Does Not Anchor Jewish Rights in Israel 19:52  |  JP 13/05/08
      59.   Answer to creation in Kabala, Einstein ``mental affinity` = soul 19:52  |  Dr Levy 13/05/08
      60.   So, Einstein is in agreement.. 19:52  |  hollingsworth 13/05/08
      61.   Einstein`s bias in religion.... He is simply wrong. 19:53  |  MJ 13/05/08
      62.   Irony:Dirty anti-semitic doormate the Gardian and Einstein 19:57  |  17 13/05/08
      63.   I Knew That 19:58  |  Mary 13/05/08
      64.   Lakshmi From Pakistan_ The Greatest Danger To Civilization 19:59  |  Eli 13/05/08
      65.   Einstein`s declaration upon leaving Germany in 1933 20:06  |  Netanel 13/05/08
      66.   Anybody home in the universe? 20:09  |  Stephen Searfoss 13/05/08
      67.   # 60 hollingsworth - It is WRITTEN in Old Testament you profess 20:16  |  17 13/05/08
      68.   #60 - Don`t worry hollingsworth... 20:22  |  JP 13/05/08
      69.   Mary # 63 Re Jews And Heaven 20:23  |  Eli 13/05/08
      70.   Response to No. 58 20:24  |  Netanel 13/05/08
      71.   self-hating Jew 20:25  |  Michael