Italian version

Albert Einstein can be considered the most important scientist of the twentieth century. His genius gave birth to revolutionary ideas in the understanding of the nature of light, culminating in the 1921 Nobel Prize for his studies on the photoelectric effect, and with the two formulations of the theory of general and special relativity. Although his studies and scientific discoveries are accessible to only a small audience, there is evidence of Einstein’s worldview that elevates him to a universal reference point for the depth of his wisdom and humanity. His quotes on peace and war, religion and philosophy, as well as the sincere humility with which he disdained honours and praise, give us an idea of a man gifted with wisdom and compassion for human beings and life in general. A person I miss in this historical period in which leaders are very far from this model.

A few years ago, I passed by a bookstore and saw the book “Albert Einstein: Thoughts of a Curious Man”¹ (the book is in Italian, I translated the excerpts contained here). I decided to buy it. It is a collection of quotes taken from written documents or public speeches, grouped by category. Page after page, I discovered that this giant of science was a wise, humane, and deeply religious person.

In the previous article, Albert Einstein and the sacredness of life, I focused on highlighting Einstein’s deep sense of respect for other human beings, which led him in the last years of his life to take a public stand against the use of nuclear weapons. In this article, I quote some passages from the book’s chapter entitled “Religion, God, and Philosophy” (the references for each passage are explicitly contained in the book) to demonstrate how his religiosity was equal to his scientific acumen.

My religiosity consists of a modest admiration for the infinitely superior spirit that reveals itself in the little we… can understand of reality

Everything is determined by forces over which we have no control. This is true for insects as well as for stars. Human beings, plants, or cosmic dust, we all dance to the rhythm of a mysterious music, played in the distance by an invisible piper.

It is very difficult to explain this [cosmic religious] feeling to those who are completely devoid of it … It has distinguished the religious spirits of every age; it knows neither a God in the image of man nor dogmas … In my opinion, the main function of art and science is to awaken this feeling and keep it alive in those who can accept it.

The scientist is permeated by a sense of universal causality … His religiosity consists of an ecstatic amazement at the harmony of the laws of nature, which reveal to him an intelligence so superior that, in comparison, systematic thought and human endeavors are but poor reflections … There is no doubt that this is a religious feeling very close to that experienced by religious spirits of all times.

I am a deeply religious non-believer… In a sense, it is a new kind of religion.

This is my idea of God: the deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a supreme rationality that reveals itself in the incomprehensible universe.

I think that it was precisely this profound wisdom, revealing an innate perception of the true reality of nature, that enabled him to be one of the greats of science. I will conclude with a quote from his 1941 essay “Science and Religion”:
Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.

I believe that this sentence admirably sums up the deep connection between two systems of thought that are too often considered antithetical. Finding common ground where we are accustomed to seeing differences is one of the reasons that drives me to write. You can find other articles inspired by this intention in the Science and spirituality category.

You can send your comment to info@esperienzedivalore.it, I will be happy to respond.

1. “Albert Einstein. Pensieri di un uomo curioso” by Alice Calaprice, Piccola Biblioteca Oscar Mondadori, 2018 ↩︎