Summary of "Einstein's God" from Speaking of Faith, with Krista Tippett
In the Speaking of faith program entitled Einstein's God, Krista Tippett and two physicists, Freeman Dyson and Paul Davies, discuss Albert Einstein's life and his belief in God. Einstein was a revolutionary physicist of the twentieth century that changed science to what is is today. Einstein's theory of general relativity was the inspiration for now common theories such as the the Big Bang, black holes, and quantum mechanics (althought Einstein, himself, disagreed with the randomness of quantum mechanics). Einstein changed contemporary ideas about space and time that had been established for centuries when he theory of general relativity was proven in 1919. Einstein's theory of special relativity clashed with the ideas of his time that energy and mass differed and his famous equation, E=m(c)(c). His equation made known that there was a very close relationship between mass and energy while his contemporaries believed there was no relationship at all. Einstein's work with mathematics and physics caused him to develop a distinct view of God and His influence on our lives.
Albert Einstein's God was not a personal one. He made this clear many times in written text and recordings of his voice, but he did believe in God. Einstein's God was more of a universal spirit--something that must exist for the complexities of the Universe and life to exist. Einstein could not believe in a God that punishes and rewards people. Einstein's religion was based in mystery. He believed that the mystery in the Universe was the making of a divine spirit that had fine-tuned the Universe in order for life to be possible within it. For Einstein, science and religion were both about the same thing, mystery, and to him science attempted to "know the mind of God." Einstein's God was not a personal one, He was a universal spirit which made life possible and created the mystery which science attempts to put into equations and a better understanding to essentially know the mind of God.
Memorable quotes by Albert Einstein from Speaking of Faith
"God does not play dice with the Universe"
"Anyone who approaches science without religious awe is not a true scientist"
"Morality is of highest importance to us, not God"
