Brilliant Scientist's View of God
Most
scientists today accept these theories as fact. Hubble probably had a
greater impact on mankind's viewpoints about a supreme being than any
other scientist, but he scrupulously avoided giving any hint of what his
personal ideas about a supreme intelligence were.
Most of these men were scientists first and foremost, and oftentimes
they gave little thought to anything that might interfere with their
work, including theology. But as we'll see, their great intellects were
often hardly in agreement about science, to say nothing of theology.
Charles Darwin
The Darwin Tempest
Charles
Darwin’s theory of evolution set off a firestorm of controversy that
continues even today. The concept of one species descending from another
directly contradicted biblical creationism and was considered a godless
explanation for life and man.
The onetime ministerial student wrote in a letter to John Fordyce in 1879 "I have never been an atheist in the sense of denying the existence of a God. – I think that... an agnostic would be the most correct description of my state of mind.” So Darwin, by his own words, was an agnostic.
The onetime ministerial student wrote in a letter to John Fordyce in 1879 "I have never been an atheist in the sense of denying the existence of a God. – I think that... an agnostic would be the most correct description of my state of mind.” So Darwin, by his own words, was an agnostic.
Max Planck
Quantum Mechanic
Max
Planck, German Physicist, founded Quantum Theory. Simply put this
theory gave a tool for understanding atomic level activity and the
influence of surrounding fields. Some claim this theory is where
science and theology intersect. He was a Christian but did not condemn
those who thought differently. He once said, “"Religion is the link that
binds man to God." Max Plank: Believer.
Albert Einstein
Energy and Matter
Albert
Einstein’s philosophy about the supernatural is complicated and perhaps
brilliant, like his theories in physics. His most telling statement
was, “I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly
harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with the fates
and actions of human beings.”
Einstein seems to have rejected traditional religious views in favor of a force that gives order to the universe. We might call Einstein a “Deist” since he believed in some organizing power but completely rejected the idea of a personal God.
Einstein seems to have rejected traditional religious views in favor of a force that gives order to the universe. We might call Einstein a “Deist” since he believed in some organizing power but completely rejected the idea of a personal God.
Edwin Hubble
The Expanding Universe
Edwin
Hubble's work laid the foundation for the expanding universe theory and
the resultant “Big Bang” theory of the creation of the universe. His
other accomplishments in astronomy are also amazing. Galaxies existing
beyond our own and redshift-distance relationship were also his
contributions.
Hubble was raised Christian and in some early letters alluded to the idea that he believed he had some sort of “destiny” which wasn’t explained.
Hubble’s thoughts about God, if he had any, are unknown.
Hubble was raised Christian and in some early letters alluded to the idea that he believed he had some sort of “destiny” which wasn’t explained.
Hubble’s thoughts about God, if he had any, are unknown.
J. Robert Oppenheimer
Fan of Eastern Literature
J.
Robert Oppenheimer, a physicist and scientific director of the
Manhattan Project, was known to be interested in Eastern religions and
he sometimes quoted from Eastern philosophy. He read the Bhagavad Gita
while in college and was greatly impressed with it, but, aside from an
intellectual interest there is no evidence that Oppenheimer believed in
or practiced any religion. Whether Oppenheimer believed in a higher
power in any form is unknown.
Edward Teller
The Ultimate Deterrent
Edward
Teller, called the “Father of the H-Bomb” was an avowed agnostic with
faith in technology, not a supreme being. Like many of his
contemporaries, he was driven by his work and gave little or no thought
to God or philosophy. His Jewish background was virtually missing from
his later life. Edward Teller was an agnostic.
James Watson
DNA Co-Discoverer
James
Watson was half of the famed research team or Watson and Crick that
unraveled the secrets of DNA. The results of his work have evolved into
the advanced genetic research of today.
Watson once told his students that, “he was a "total believer in evolution" and feels the Bible is "just not right" in the face of science. He also confessed that he does not believe in a soul or anything divine.
James Watson is an atheist.
Watson once told his students that, “he was a "total believer in evolution" and feels the Bible is "just not right" in the face of science. He also confessed that he does not believe in a soul or anything divine.
James Watson is an atheist.
Francis Crick
DNA Co-Discoverer
Francis
Crick , the rest of the Watson and Crick team, was speaking to a
reporter for The Telegraph and said: "The god hypothesis is rather
discredited." He also once stated that his distaste for religion was a
primary driving factor in his research, which he felt would debunk the
God theory for good. Francis Crick, obviously, was an Atheist.
Carl Sagan
A Modern View
Carl
Sagan, “The People’s Astronomer," made many interesting statements
about God. “The idea that God is an oversized white male with a flowing
beard, who sits in the sky and tallies the fall of every sparrow is
ludicrous. But if by "God" one means the set of physical laws that
govern the universe, then clearly there is such a God. This God is
emotionally unsatisfying ... it does not make much sense to pray to the
law of gravity.”
Sagan, however, denied that he was an atheist:
"An atheist has to know a lot more than I know." In reply to a question
in 1996 about his religious beliefs, Sagan answered, "I'm agnostic." By
Carl Sagan’s self description, he was an agnostic.

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