Einstein rediscovered ancient middle path between god and godlessness
Re: “Even Einstein worshipped something beyond science,” Have Your Say, May 7.
Eric Bahrt gives us much to think about when he quotes Albert Einstein as saying, “Behind all the discernible laws and connections there remains something subtle, intangible, and inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond anything we can comprehend is my religion.”
It is generally agreed that Einstein was a fairly smart man – possibly even smarter than Dr Frank, although that question is open for debate. Einstein differs from conventional religionists in regarding this “something subtle” as an impersonal principle. It’s not a Big Guy in the Sky; it neither wants nor appreciates worship; it has no more feeling than the law of gravity. Like Old Man River, it “just keeps rolling along”.
This concept is featured in the body of Hindu scriptures known as the Upanishads. The Chandogya Upanishad (800-600BCE) contains a dialogue whose language is eerily prescient of Einstein’s. Here the sage Uddalaka Aruni tells his son Shvetaketu to put salt in a container of water. The salt gets totally dissolved, but its taste has been diffused throughout the water. Uddalaka then declares, “That which is the subtle essence [of the salt] – in it all that exists has its self. That is the True. That is the Self. That thou art, Shvetaketu.” (Chandogya Upanishad 6.13.1-3; Swami Nikhilananda’s translation)
The idea of a principle rather than a deity as being the primary constituent of the universe may not please atheists and will certainly offend theists as being cold and bloodless. Theists need something more warm and fuzzy to adore, something that will respond to their adoration with love. I empathise with that need. But unfortunately the universe is under no obligation to pander to our needs. As a middle way between theism and atheism, the Uddalaka formula, together with the judgement of Einstein, has much to commend it.
Ye Olde Theologian
