Stuff to Blog About and More: Einstein letter to be auctioned off

German-born physicist Albert Einstein, pictured here in 1948, described belief in God as "childish superstition" and said Jews were not the chosen people, in a letter to be sold in London this week, an auctioneer has said.(AFP/File)

AFP/File Photo: German-born physicist Albert Einstein, pictured here in 1948, described belief in God as "childish superstition".

Three is some insight to Albert Einstein as a piece of his history heads to the auction block this week . A letter written by Einstein will be auctioned off in London .

Details of the letter

Albert Einstein describs belief in God as "childish superstition" .

Einstein says that Jews were not the chosen people
Einstein said he had a great affinity with Jewish people but said they "have no different quality for me than all other people".
The letter was written on January 3, 1954 to the philosopher Eric Gutkind.

Quotes from the letter

"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this."

"And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people."

And he added: "As far as my experience goes, they are no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."

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