Einstein and the Mind of God: Einstein's God

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Albert Einstein did not believe in a personal God, "who would directly influence the actions of individuals or would sit in judgment on creatures of His own creation," but he did have an admiration for the order of the universe and recognized their was something behind it.

His theory of relativity , E = mc^2, changed how people viewed reality, by representing time not as an unchangeable constant, but as another variable in existence, just like space, gravity, and light. This view also mirrored the views of older philosophers and cultures, like St. Augustine or the Aborigines in Australia.

Einstein also emphasized the importance of mystery. He once said that "He who knows it not and can no longer wonder, no longer feel amazement, is as good as dead." Mystery and wonder is what started him on the path of science and what kept him going. When his dad showed him a compass and he saw the needle move without a seen force moving it, it sparked questions that led him down the road of science.

A major reason that Einstein did not believe in a personal God is that because he believed the universe was completely governed by mathematical laws, he thought that it would be illogical for the supreme being who created these laws to act in opposition to them. This was also why he disagreed with the theories of quantum physics and its randomness, as he said "God does not play dice with the universe." However, some people, like Paul Davies, think that this randomness is the way a personal God can interact with his creations without going in opposition to his own laws.

Finally, Einstein believed that religion and science were intertwined and that they were reciprocals. He said that "Science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind." Einstein was a practicing Jew, but not a "believing" Jew, and he admired its moral code. He did not believe in a personal God, but did believe in an order to the universe. Thus, Einstein was a religious scientist and a man of faith, but cannot be said to be a believer in God.

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