Einstein letter, set for auction, shows scientist challenging idea of God, being 'chosen'

[Silent3]

20. Sure such things are open to judgment

Last edited Mon Oct 8, 2012, 06:46 AM - Edit history (1)

If someone decides to use "god" to mean "toaster" or "bicycle rack", that would likely never impinge upon me, but it still would be a ridiculous way to use the word, one that does nothing other than impede communication and understanding.

Calling beings which, like ourselves, have arisen naturally, "gods", just because those beings are more advanced in some way than humans, might have some evocative or poetic value. Since there are much deeper and more fundamental conceptions of godhood, however, than mere higher intelligence or advanced technology or culture, then, whether it "impinges" upon me directly or not, I feel perfectly justified in saying that blurring these different meanings is a great mistake, something that only leads to confusion and category errors.