Part 39 of Post Your Tough Questions Regarding Christianity

No, actually your revisionist history has it backwards.

Who cares about what he went through as a child, I'm speaking about him as a grown-up, as a physicist scientist.

That quote I posted from Peter Bucky was how Einstein conducted himself following his theory of relativity discovery. That's when he composed a number of songs to honor God. He didn't compose those songs when he was a child...nice try but sorry you have it backwards.

Anyway let me again go over this once again.

Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity means that the universe had a beginning and was not eternal as he had previously believed (Einstein was originally a pantheist). His theory proved that the universe is not a cause, but instead one big effect—something brought it into existence.

Einstein disliked his end result so much that he introduced a “fudge factor” into his theory that allowed for an eternal universe. But there was only one problem. His fudge factor required a division by zero in his calculations—a mathematical error any good math student knows not to make. When discovered by other mathematicians, Einstein admitted his error calling it “the greatest blunder of my life.” After his acknowledgment, and upon confirming further research that showed the universe expanding just as his theory of relativity predicted, Einstein bowed to the fact that the universe is not eternal and said, "I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts; the rest are details."

Let's go back before Einstein's theory of relativity discovery during the time when he rejected the existence of a personal God such as the Christian God of the Holy Bible to find what was the reason for his rejection.

Einstein recognized the remarkable design and order of the cosmos, but could not reconcile those characteristics with the evil and suffering he found in human existence. How could an all-powerful God allow the suffering that exists on earth?

Einstein's error ( like most other non-believers)

Einstein's failure to understand the motives of God are the result of his incorrect assumption that God intended this universe as His ultimate perfect creation. Einstein could not get past the moral problems that are present in our universe.

He assumed, as most atheists do, that a personal God would only create a universe which is both good morally and perfect physically. However, according to Christianity, the purpose of the universe is not to be morally or physically perfect, but to provide a place where spiritual creatures can choose to love or reject God - to live with Him forever in a new, perfect universe, or reject Him and live apart from Him for all eternity.

It would not be possible to make this choice in a universe in which all moral choices are restricted to only good ones. Einstein didn't seem to understand that one could not choose between good and bad if bad did not exist. It's amazing that such a brilliant man could not understand such a simple logical principle.

But hopefully for Einstein's own sake, after he became a deeply religious man following his theory of relativity discovery he converted over to Christianity before his death.
Then he could ask Our Creator Almighty God face to face the question that has baffled his brilliant mind from the day he learned the universe had a beginning and it was not a cause and not eternal as he once believed it to be but it was one big effect that was brought into existence, "How did you create this universe Lord?"

Of course Our Creator Almighty God's explanation is going to be way over Einstein's mind to comprehend...lol

He'll probably say to the Lord, "That's ok Lord you don't need to explain it to me, by the way I really like the accommodations here."...lol

We Read in Scripture:

The Account of Creation

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2 NLT

That was all true during pre-theory relativity days but during post-theory relativity days is where you can't be sure. You don't know if before his death he converted over to Christianity, I mean after all he finally acknowledged that the universe was not eternal, it had a beginning, and he wanted to know how God created the universe, all this coming during post-theory relativity days.

Again this was all during pre-theory relativity days.

When people experience profound, impactful, life-changing events in their lives it is not inconceivable that this event could alter/change their once held beliefs that they had prior to this event, such could be the case with physicist Albert Einstein.

Let's not forget what Albert muttered out of his mouth after his theory of relativity discovery.

 

Yes, this universe had a beginning.

However, there is NO evidence that it was a purely creative event. In fact, there isn't evidence that it was the only such event. Our knowledge of this universe goes back to a fraction of a second AFTER.

Our ability to look at what happened is limited by reasons of physics to within a fraction of a second following, and within the bounds of this universe. The information we have concerning the original environment is severely limited.

So, this is one of those things we do not know.

Further, it is NOT acceptable for us to declare things we don't know to be things god did - whether or not there is a god.

That is a SPECTACULAR leap for which there is ZERO evidence - again, regardless of whether there is a god.

And, the idea of considering Einstein's religious beliefs as of any value in this issue makes NO SENSE AT ALL - regardless of what those beliefs might have actually been.

Einstein wasn't you pastor, rabbi or pope.

If you want to start taking your religious leadership from physicists, please let me know. I could hook you up!

 

Quote mining:
Deceptively editing or taking a quotation out of context so as to attribute the author with a different or even contrary view.
It's intellectually dishonest.

The content of my post is historically correct; yours? Not so much.

 

Absolutely.

Not only that, but he should have recognized that his whole angle of trying to leverage Einstein for God is just plain SILLY.

 

Your belief is duly noted and in the Christian perspective it is relevant because it determines where one spends their after-life. And so belief has consequences.

Believers/Christians spend eternity in God's Kingdom of Heaven. Unbelievers/Non-Christians spend eternity in hell for punishment of their sins. We all have the gift of free will to choose where we spend eternity. So where one finds themselves in the after-life it was by their choice to be there.

We Read in Scripture:

Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ said,

The Narrow Gate

13 "You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." Matthew 7:13-14 NLT

 

Believers of what spend eternity in God's Kingdom ? and "The Other" those who do not believe the same made up dogma in which you believe .. spend an eternity of punishment in hell.

1) you are speaking for God - you have no idea who makes it - who doesn't.
2) Believe in what ? What are folks supposed to believe in to get that Free pass through the pearly gates .. Previously you have claimed Martin Luther's "Sola Fide" .. a man made dogma that conflicts with the teachings of Jesus..

3) Free Gift --- ? The pass through the pearly gates is not Free - according to the teachings of Jesus.. For in Scripture we read -- that it is the doers of the word that get through the gates .. not the "hearers" .. not the "Faith Alone Crowd" -- those who cry "Lord Lord" hoping that this cry will save them.

Jesus has a different message.. Matt 7:

This is you who Jesus is describing - claiming "Do this or Go to Hell"

Contrary to your claim -- Jesus says the "Faith Crowd" will not necessarily make it into the kingdom ... as it is not "Faith that gets one through" .. but doing the will of the Father .. which is not "Sola Fide" .. it requires you actually do something.

And what is it we are to do ?

We are to put the words of Jesus into practice .. Thats what Jesus says.

1) What must believe in order to make it into heaven ?
2) What are the words that we are to put into practice to make it into heaven ?
3) how does 1 satisfy 2 ?

 

I haven't heard anyone speak so well of all that you wrote, since high school.

Thank you.

 

It's not a belief. Those are facts.

Prior to the rise of the Western Greeks (as separate and distinguishable from Eastern Greeks), there are no civilizations that had a concept of a soul or hell. Even the concept of reincarnation was concocted by the Greeks and since Greek culture was pervasive, extending from Egypt to Persia, Hindus came into contact with Greek culture and took it back to India.

That the Greeks invented Hell is well-documented and we understand it is your abject fear that prevents you from studying those documents and learning.

 

Thanks so much for your complimentary words! I salute you!

 

Don't jump the gun. I've said nothing in regards to prohibiting mandatory school prayer because that's not what is being discussed at the moment.

Essentially my statement meant that I'm not here forcing you to believe what I believe as far as believing in the Christian faith, besides it's impossible to force someone to believe in anything. Belief in whatever it is, is an individual's choice.

 

Good, because the Jesus-thing says people who pray in public are hypocrites.

 

I was raised by Franciscan Sisters and my teachers were Jesuit Brothers, but I got nothing on you, sir! ( I can feel the sting of the ruler now for the poor grammar )

 

The Egyptians had a rather advanced concept of the afterlife, didn't they? The Hindi invented reincarnation well before the Greeks

 

Exactly. Not much of Christianity is particularly new or unique in terms of what religions have come up with.

Before the new testament, there were gods of virgin birth, raisings from the dead, many other miracles, concepts of heaven and hell, creation stories, etc., etc.

 

I think very few people consider what is being said by any religion other than the one they were most exposed to.

Also, I'm not so sure that having a religion sound wonderful to humans is a factor in evaluating truth value.

 

I could not care less what you think. I gave the gentleman a compliment on his knowledge and ability to express it. What you feel about that is less than meaningless.

 

Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you.

 

I do not get upset - I am just coldly honest.

 

Your post was all about you as an injured party.

Seriously, I didn't mean to make you feel that way.

 

You just can't help yourself, can you?

 

Once again, I apologize.

 

Come now .. think your Jesuit training should have taught you better ..

 

Now that the smoke has filled backside --- how about you get to some of those "tough questions" you have been avoiding.

We are to put the words of Jesus into practice .. Thats what Jesus says.

1) What must one believe in order to make it into heaven ?
2) What are the words that we are to put into practice to make it into heaven ? -- as we read in scripture - Matt 7: 15-27
3) how does 1 satisfy 2 ?

 

So, I only appreciated the comment because I'm stupid and brainwashed - but you haven't brainwashed yourself, because you're superior?

And Mitt Ryan is just a real good salesman...

And then you accuse me of having a victim complex.

You are unbelievably far from as smart as you keep trying to convince yourself and others that you are.

My dialogue with Mitt Ryan had nothing, whatsoever, to do with you or your opinion, yet you could not stop yourself from injecting yourself into the dialogue for the sake of diminishing it, and the participants.

I will hang with "stupid," polite, believers, over you and people like you, any day of the week.

 

No, I mentioned that as a general rule - absolutely not as an accusation of you or any other individual.

As for myself, I've spent very little time attempting to understand even just the major religions other than the one that I grew up with and which is the most commonly claimed religion of Americans.

Well, this thread has included contributions of a good number of individuals, not just you and Ryan.

And, I have NOT suggested that Ryan's religion is false.

I just care about this intersection between religion and science.

My comments were directed at this problem of individuals attempting to twist science to support their religion. That is one of the significant steps in a direction that IS a serious problem for America.

I consistently point out that science has no way of disproving the existence of the Christian god (or any other god) - so science isn't some threat. And, I have NO interest in moving anyone away from their religion.

I just care about this intersection between religion and science.

I'd really appreciate you pointing out something I've said that you see as offensive. I'll bet we can fix me.