Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Science vs God

Author Unknown
I find no evidence that this was written by Albert Einstein in 1921 as reported on the internet,
but it certainly shows much wisdom, and I must say I only wish I had written it! ... Bob West

















Albert Einstein

"Let me explain the problem science has with religion."
The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class
and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment.
"Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here
and you can cure him. You can do it.
Would you help him? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could.
Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues.

"He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer,
even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good?
Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water
from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

"Er..yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From God."

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he?
Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world? "

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it"
And God did make everything correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" The professor continued,
"If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists,
and according to the principle that our works define who we are,
then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer.

"Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?
All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again,
so the professor repeats his question.
"Who created them?"

There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace
in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.

"Tell me," he continues onto another student.
"Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks.
"Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses
you use to identify and observe the world around you.
Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him.'

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelled your Jesus?
Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ,
or God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol,
science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats.
"And that is the problem science has with God.
There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment,
before asking a question of his own.
"Professor, is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested.

The room suddenly becomes very quiet.

The student begins to explain, "You can have lots of heat, even more heat,
super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat,
but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero,
which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that.
There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go
colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Everybody or object is susceptible
to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body
or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat.
You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat.
We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy.
Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence across the room.
A pen drops somewhere in the classroom,
sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor.
Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation.
"What is night if it isn't darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir.

Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something.
You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light,
but if you have no light constantly
you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it?
That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't.
If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him.
This will be a good semester.
"So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with,
and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time.
"Flawed? Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains.
"You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God.
You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, science can't even explain a thought.
It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen,
much less fully understood either one.
To view death as the opposite of life is t o be ignorant of the fact that
death cannot exist as a substantive thing.
Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.

"Now tell me, professor.
Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man,
yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes
where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work
and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor,
are you not teaching your opinion, sir?
Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent
until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student,
let me give you an example of what I mean." The student looks around the room.
"Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?"

The class breaks out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain,
felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain?
No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of
empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol,science says that you have no brain,
with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain,
how can we trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent.
The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers.
"I guess you'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,"
the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it every day.
It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man.
It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world.
These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir,
or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God.
It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created
to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil.
Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have
God's love present in his heart.
It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat
or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

God Bless you my friends, Bob
Thanks to Al and Kit Eaton for this post

Pray to receive Jesus Christ as Savior

72 comments:

  1. Indeed. It has to be taken with a grain of salt, imho, because it can reduce the devil into a personification of the absence of good. However, Revelation teaches that it is otherwise.

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  2. Very interesting. In fact, someone was just telling me this morning about his son arguing this point and using this basic information in his class at college.

    Thanks for visiting my blog today.

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  3. Cathy:

    That is why this post has real value. The athiests who control the science programs public schools and colleges need to be challenged when they make false statements about the reality of God. This post gives students some points to focus on that will allow them to turn the table on false naturalistic conclusions that are being peddled as fact in our science classrooms.

    God Bless, Bob

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  4. Graça e Paz!
    Bob West

    Meus agradecimentos pela visita, participação e por seguir o meu blog!
    É uma grande honra! Volte sempre!

    Estou seguindo o seu Blog também!
    Deus o abençoe cada vez mais!

    Abraços!
    Rodolfo

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  5. I loved this! Thank you for visiting my blog!

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  6. I don't think it really matters if Albert said this or not, the principles are still relevant.

    Great stuff! God bless.

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  7. Hi, So happy to find you as a new follower to my humble little blog. It put a smile in my day. I find your blog very informative and today you also have a new follower. Me.:) Dee

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  8. Always love that story.
    Thanks for stopping by my little blog.

    Be blessed. Be a blessing.
    DJ GlenMC

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  9. Thanks for visiting my blog. I really enjoyed reading this post

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  10. Interesting post!

    Science does not have to "oppose" faith. The more science that I learn, the more amazed I am at our Creator and the beautiful, orderly, and intricately detailed universe He has created.

    The first great scientists were motivated by their faith in God. :)

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  11. That is a good story...many things to ponder...thanks for your visit to my blog....

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  12. This is a great piece. I love it. God gave man the wisdom to become scientists. Yet with all our wisdom we can't duplicate what God created.

    Thanks for your comments regarding my blog. I appreciate it. Have a great weekend.

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  13. I became totally absorbed in this story. I haven't heard it before. Enjoyed it a lot and certainly food for thought. I see from others' comments that you've been around to many blogs today. Mine as well, and I really appreciate your comment, and your follow. I am returning the favor. I'm glad you found worthwhile and "insightful" posts on my blog, and I have certainly found them here! Thank you so much!
    Blessings, Bob!
    Wendy
    Faith's Firm Foundation
    www.wendygunn.net

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  14. Wow, what a story. Thanks for sharing. God bless.

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  15. This story is new to me. It provides some really good thoughts about faith and the nature of good and evil. I need to commit these aspects of argument to my natural thought.

    Thanks for presenting this.
    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  16. Wow this story is great! Thank you for stopping by! Have you heard of the book God Doesn't believe in Athiests? I hope you have a great night!

    God Bless!

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  17. I woke up at 3 am this morning and as I usually do when I can't sleep, I got on the computer. I checked my blog and saw where you'd left a comment and a link to this posting. Now, I am a Christian but I have two brothers who are Athiests. One of them is a Scientist....ha! In other words...he's too smart to believe in God! This posting of yours might be a very useful tool....of course, I have to figure out how to actually get him to read it! Thank you so much. I look forward to reading more. Insomnia is good for something after all!

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  18. and death is not the end, but merely the drawing of the curtains at the end of the day before the bright morning begins...
    I enjoyed your post.
    Thank you for visiting my Blog.
    Blessings, Star

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  19. This is a very insightful story and I really enjoyed reading it. Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a great weekend. God Bless.

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  20. I enjoyed the story and it gave me a lot to ponder over the weekend. Thank you for stopping by my blog.

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  21. I've read this before and am always amused by it... to me it portrays the premise that in faith, God and Science can co-exist.

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  22. Thanks for following Betty! I am now following you.

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  23. WOW THIS is good!
    Following your blog too now. Don't miss my give away on June 1st to win an add on the top of my blog side bar.
    Have a great week end!
    Frenchy

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  24. Hi Bob, thanks so much for your words and following Gods Little People. So pleased to make your acquiantance. Exellent article above, really exellent. It's humans is a nutshell to work everything out from a duality, isn't it. Like Einstein also said (one version of his words) "The sinificant problems we face cannot be solved at the level at which they were created." Look forward to your future posts.

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  25. I remember hearing my youth pastor tell me about this story. Its impact was so deep on the entire youth group. I brought it up in a bible study about four days later. Our host (who's in the medical field) shared a little reality with me. (As a 15 year old, my current plan is to go into neurology.) He said, "No matter what you go through in college, no matter what classes you take, never let the things you know aren't true get to you. Believe in God and you will succeed. Never let man's word and the absence of God destroy your faith." I find it amazing that the basis of succeeding in life are tangled with man's word trying to shut down faith.

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  26. Talking about you on my blog today!
    Frenchy

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  27. Wonderful and very encouraging to read, thank you for posting!

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  28. This was fabulous and I really hope it was Einstein because it just makes it a little more precious that way, doesn't it?

    Thank you for your kind words about my blog; I do enjoy your posts as well. I'll be smiling about this one for the rest of the day.

    Swati

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  29. I don't care what others say. Lols I think this is one piece of good reading. Worth reading. :-)

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  30. Great post. I am now a follower of your blog as well Bob! Keep up the awesome posts.

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  31. Bob I've read the story before but was sure worth reading again. On another blog Einstein is quoted as saying "He didn't know what weapons would be used in WWIII but in WWIV it would be sticks and stones. I guess it is all "relative." That was Einstein to LOL Great blog I will be back

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  32. interesting post...nice to meet you btw!

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  33. I really like that account! The professor never saw that coming but he was sure asking for it!

    Committed Christian

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  34. Oh my goodness! I am so glad I stopped by your post! This was very awesome post! Thank you for stopping by my blog and I am now a follower of your blog!

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  35. Very interesting blog, full of information. Awesome post. Thanks for your comment on my blog from yesterday.
    Regards,
    Ella

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  36. Great blog you have here. I've read this post on the internet some time ago and so it was refreshing to read it again. Thanks for visiting my How To Homemaker site. I look forward to reading more here.
    Blessings,
    Nancy

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  37. Thanks for stopping by my blog! Nice to meet you, I'm a new follower.

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  38. That was a great story! I look forward to following your blog!

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  39. Thanks for your kind words on my blog. Friends are always welcome !

    Have a blessed day :)

    P.S. Sometimes I type so fast and letters miss or just go over ;)

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  40. Loved the story. Thanks for following my blog, and I'll sure be following yours. God bless

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  41. i love this post...thanks for following my blog! i'm returning the favor! god bless!
    flory

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  42. what a story! I absolutely love it and love your blog. Thank you for visiting mine and for being a follower. How kind of you. I'm so honored!

    how wonderful to be able to connect and be friends even across thousands of miles, and share our thoughts and story... i'm glad to be a part of this great venture.

    God bless you mightily. following you too.

    Ruth

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  43. Wow. I hope this story is true. Thanks for sharing it.

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  44. Whoa...I was hesitant to read at first....didn't know where it was going. Oh but I'm so glad I did....very interesting how that young man quieted that professor. To God be the glory....

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  45. I enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing!

    Thanks also for stopping by my blog!

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  46. I have never read this before. I sure do like it and enjoyed reading it. Thank you, for posting it. Excellent points made.

    Thank you, for commenting on my blog.

    Have a blessed weekend.

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  47. You came in as a follower on my blog day before yesterday. Thank you! I'm glad you found me because now I've found you. This post is very interesting. I've heard this before, and it's truly intriguing. "There must needs be opposition in all things." As a commenter above said, there are true principles here.

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  48. Love this. Had seen a shortened version a while back so I enjoyed seeing the whole thing. Thank you for sharing it. Have a blessed weekend.

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  49. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. I'm glad you did because I enjoyed finding your blog and reading this post. It was wery insightful.

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  50. Oh! What a wonderfull blog and what an interesting and educational story... Thank you also for stopping by my blog... And keep doing this outstanding job! Congratulations...

    *I think that a similar story had been sent to my email.. It could be yours... And I also believe that we maybe not smart or gifted or skilfull enough to understand either the rules of science or the existence of god...

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  51. wow.. nice post.. i'm very like it..
    it the real condition in the world now..
    very good and great job..

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  52. love the post! Thanks for the follow,also.. I am now too a follower.. Have a great week.

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  53. Interesting article, Bob.

    Frankly, I've never heard of such a story before.
    But as far as I know, Einstein is an atheist, isn't he?

    Thanks for visiting,
    Shalom!

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  54. I really enjoyed this! I'm glad you found my blog. Thanks for sharing.

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  55. Great writing and truly inspiring. Thanks, Bob. God bless!:D

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  56. Great post! Thanks for visiting my blog. Following yours now.
    Jennifer @ The Craft Barn

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  57. Hi, Bob, and thank you for following my blog. Having read this, I shall now follow yours!

    This is a fascinating dialogue. It goes to prove that contrary to popular opinion, Christianity is extremely logical. The Bible more than answers the questions of everyone from the simplest, uneducated person to the top thinkers of our age. God is a God of order and logic, and has reflected these things in us, as His image, and given us enquiring minds to discover more of what He has created, both seen and unseen.

    One of the problems in the world today is the problem of perception. Everyone accepts it as a given, that science and God are opposing and irreconcilable. This is far from the truth. Modern science is, in fact, a faith position, just as much as any religious position.

    True science is about observation and hypothesis, and coming to conclusions about the nature of things based on ALL the evidence available at the time - and is not limited merely to material things, as this dialogue shows. Modern accepted science cannot explain beauty, love, art in all its forms, human creativity... yet these things exist. So-called scientists such as Richard Dawkins limit themselves to the material alone, and as a result they cannot answer the fundamental questions, and are injuring themselves and others in the process.

    Modern science was built on the foundations of Newton and many others of his era, who were Bible believing Christians. They would not have done what they did had they not been.

    God has given us His creation to study and enjoy, and has given us enquiring minds to discover ever more and more - modern science has proved that the more we discover, the more we realise there is to discover - just as we find with God Himself. He has placed us in the ideal environment, situated exactly where we are in the galaxy, to study the farthest reaches of His creation as well as the innermost perfection of the smallest particles.

    True science should encourage such exploration - with the ultimate purpose of giving glory to the One who created it in the first place. It is an abuse of science to use it as a tool to deny the Creator and deliberately to turn people away from Him, their Creator, Saviour and Father.

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  58. To my many new friends

    Thanks for your encouraging and intelligent words.
    The many posts would make a great post all by itself.
    Hopefully in the weeks to come we will be able to learn from each other
    As we develop an new ongoing online friendships

    In Him, bob

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  59. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
    So glad to find you as a new follower to my blog.
    I find your blog very interesting! I'm your newest follower!
    Have a great Wednesday! :)
    Blessings!
    B

    p.s. I loved this interesting post :) Thank you so much!!

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  60. And in faith Abraham went... Thanks Bob!

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  61. Presence or absence- I'd never read this before and it is extremely thought provoking! Thank you for this- I feel like I want to post it all over the place to so many people to make them think too!

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  62. Thank you for such a wonderful post & stopping by one of my blogs!
    Blessings & Happy Holidays
    Campbelljane

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  63. Congratulations, Laurie Harrison
    You are now following Paradox Principles
    Thanks for taking a stroll over to my new and humble blog. I am following you and haven't read your post yet. I'll bookmark it. Just wanted to say a quick hello. Now I have to un-box the magic that holds yet another perfect Christmas tree. I promised the grandkiddos we would put up Grandma's tree. Geez, when did decorating the tree become work? LOL
    Laurie

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  64. Well done. I think this story has a lot to say and Im glad you shared it! Thank you as well for following my blog. I appreciate the support and the content you put on your blog!

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  65. Hi Bob, I realy loke the ay the student got his point made his point, I don't see that it makes any difference if Albert said this or some othere person the principles are still relevant don't you think. God bless you all. Brian

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  66. I'll have to share this one with my husband, a physicist, who often struggles with the facts vs. faith. But then he has me and I've got plenty of faith to go around--

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

    Best!

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  67. I think it is worth noting that the views expressed in the story do not match those of Albert Einstein in anything he wrote, and also that this type of story has been circulating well before Einstein, as well as since his time but without him as a character.

    I know some will say that it is just a story and its historical authenticity doesn't matter. But with his name included, it is clearly an attempt to use his name for leverage in favor of faith, which it may be fine to do when a person in actual fact held a particular faith. But it is dishonest for us to do so if he did not.

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  68. That is why I put the disclaimer at the top of the post. Teaching evolution as fact to our public school children and ridiculing anyone that does not agree with the unscientific atheistic religious doctrine is the true dishonesty. The same foolishnes has now been repeated with "global warming will destroy the world" theories taught as fact. I will check ... but I am not so sure this does not match up with anything Einstein wrote. Sorry, but Snopes has proven to be an unreliable basis of facts.

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