A letter by Albert Einstein, in which he described religion as "childish superstitions" and the Bible as full of "primitive legends", has sold at auction for a world record £170,000. It was expected to fetch up to £8,000. The sale smashed the record for the price of a letter by the physicist. A set of several letters sold for £30,000 in 2007. The note was written in German to the philosopher Eric Gutkind on January 3, 1954. The physicist wrote: "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. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this." He went on to scorn the Jewish idea that they were a chosen people. He wrote: "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."

Einstein said the Jewish religion helped believers "attain a certain self-deception" but did not improve their morality. It is signed: "With friendly thanks and best wishes, Yours, A. Einstein." The letter was sold yesterday at Bloomsbury Auctions in Mayfair, London, where extra phone lines had to be installed to cope with interest from around the world. The item raced past its guide price of between £6,000 and £8,000 and the price kept climbing. It was eventually sold for £170,000, with an extra £37,600 in fees, to an anonymous private collector.

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Wow, I knew Einstein was pretty famous but didn't expect so much for a single letter!

Although, this contradicts his quote; "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."

Maybe he was referring to something he thought was true rather than standard Christianity or etcetera.

Always thought he meant it as more spiritual rather than religious(?) Moonlight...
Probably because he knew how (for lack of a better term) 'boxed/closed up' mainstream religion was on the human mind?

That's what I had in mind when I said that, and I think I'm with him on both views. (of course, if that's the way he truly means it) I'm sorry in advance, but even notice that the kids of religious parents more often than not end up in that same religion. They're raised to believe only that religion, and so usually they will follow. I don't mean to offend anyone, I'm just stating what I personally believe happens.

If you replace Religion for "Set of ethical values" you will get very near to what Einstein meant.

Would be interesting to get his take on it now...that he's on the other side.
THAT would be PRICELESS!

Atheism and Denial...Foolish!

This is another evil tactic to lead God’s children astray by choosing a superior intellect to deny His very existence. The world reveres Einstein as a god of intellects anyway and therefore a perfect tool to sway the whole world into denial. The world in general would not deny his authority on these matters; after all he is the author of relativity. Even the smartest can be foolish on a major scale. However, on the other hand I heard a long time ago that Einstein did believe in God. Maybe this letter is a forgery, a profaned charade work of evil.

Oakum