I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own - a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotisms.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A deity who punishes and rewards like humans is too flawed, and belief in an individual soul surviving death may stem from fear.
- In plain terms
- God should not be like humans with flaws, and believing we survive death might just be wishful thinking.
- What can you take from it?
- Question anthropomorphic views of God and fear-based beliefs about death.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is your view of God?
- How do you face mortality?
Another view
This view dismisses spiritual comfort for many people.
More from Albert Einstein
I came to America because of the great, great freedom which I heard existed in this country. I made a mistake in selecting America as a land of freedom, a mist…
Permalink to quote #187 I could burn my fingers that I wrote that first letter to Roosevelt.
Permalink to quote #189 God does not care about our mathematical difficulties. He integrates empirically.
Permalink to quote #186
Related quotes
It is better to deny God, than to defy God.
Meher BabaMeher Baba quote #7 As for a future life, every man must judge for himself between conflicting vague probabilities.
Charles DarwinCharles Darwin quote #14 God created man in His own image, says the Bible; philosophers reverse the process: they create God in theirs.
Georg Christoph LichtenbergGeorg Christoph Lichtenberg quote #127