I Know, I Believe, I Don't Know, What Was the Question?

Here is a report about the sale of an Einstein letter. I care not for the dollar value put on it, but I care a great deal that Richard Dawkins, an avowed atheist was a bidder.

Aside from my belief that some things cannot and should not be owned, I wonder why Dawkins wanted to own it. The content of the letter is well known. Did he want to own it to take it out of circulation?

In that letter Einstein called himself an agnostic. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition, ,an agnostic is, "One who holds the view that ultimate reality(as God) is unknown and probably unknowable".

Dawkins , in his most recent book, The God Delusion, calls that view wishy -washy, and those who hold it fence sitters.

Dawkins is a brilliant scientist who has added much to what science can instruct us. His 1970's book, The Selfish Gene, is an important contribution to the the layman's store of knowledge in the area of genetics. His more recent work, The God Delusion, expresses total disdain for anyone and anything religious. It's power is that he makes his points with apparent logic tight analysis, but with tunnel vision.

Dawkins is as fervent in his belief, which he calls non-belief, as those whom he ridicules for their own fervent beliefs. The atheist scientist and the believer theologian, both promote a position which can only be described as what they believe. Each is essentially a religious position, in the sense that religion is the practice of what one believes, whether defended by logical thinking, or hoped for enlightenment.

Einstein has not lost his position as having the greatest known brain ever, and using that gift to analyse the cosmo. Having done that he shared what was on his mind about ultimate reality(as God); He said he was an agnostic, confessing that he didn't know.

Some years ago, I came to understand, from having embarrassed myself too many times, that "I don't know" is likely the most intelligent response one can make.

Leanderthal, Lighthouse Keeper