Einstein’s Spiritual Dimension of Science
Albert Einstein was perhaps the most influential scientist of the 20th century, whose groundbreaking theories revolutionized our understanding of the universe. His contributions extend across the full spectrum of Physics - from the quantum realm to classical mechanics and cosmology. The quantum theory of light, along with the special and general theories of relativity, radically transformed our understanding of light, space, time, mass, motion and gravitation, overturning centuries-old Newtonian concepts. His rebellious nature, though necessary for his discoveries, also worked against dogma where he deeply reflected on philosophy, religion, ethics and spiritual dimensions of science. His writings on the philosophy of religion reveal a deep intellectual and emotional engagement with questions that lie at the heart of human existence through which he taught many valuable lessons about life.
In a letter to David Bohm in 1954, American theoretical physicist and philosopher, Einstein wrote: “If God created the world, His primary concern was certainly not to make its understanding easy for us.” This statement is partly philosophical, partly scientific and partly theological. It reflects the idea that the universe is vast and complex, requiring deep investigation to comprehend, and that God’s wisdom ultimately surpasses human understanding. Einstein took the idea of God very seriously, elevating it from a religious notion to a mathematical one. To Einstein, the elegance of the laws of physics, guiding the universe were God’s handiwork, reflecting divine beauty, not a humanlike God controlling. In the later part of life, Einstein advocated for world peace and the principles of nonviolence and spoke out against militarism. Perhaps, no other scientist in history has matched the depth, originality and impact in both science and philosophy.
An examination of Einstein’s biography reveals that his parents held a secular outlook and nurtured him in a liberal environment that encouraged independent thought and freethinking. Although he received both Jewish and Catholic instructions in childhood, he gradually moved away from religious orthodoxy while appreciating the cultural and intellectual legacy of Judaism. Einstein held no religious beliefs in the conventional sense but he invoked “God” in his theories and discussions. It was between 1915 and 1930, when quantum theory was rapidly developing, that Einstein sparked intense philosophical debates with the leading physicists of the time. At Bohr’s Institute in Copenhagen, Bohr and Heisenberg developed a philosophical explanation of quantum theory, famously called ‘Copenhagen Interpretation’ highlighting wave-function collapse and the observer’s role in shaping the physical reality. The theory introduced revolutionary concepts like probability, wave-particle duality and the uncertainty principle, all rooted in mathematical formulations and experimental evidence. Einstein rejected the interpretation as he believed in an orderly, rational and deterministic universe governed by precise laws.
Einstein believed that nature does not work by chances even if its workings remain unclear to us. Einstein being one of the pioneers of Quantum Mechanics had laid its early foundations by proposing that light is composed of photons which explained the Photoelectric effect. His proposition also established that light was both a wave and a particle, rejecting the long-held notion “ether” as unnecessary medium. Reacting to Max Born’s probabilistic interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, in a letter in 1926, Einstein wrote: “Quantum Mechanics is certainly imposing. But an inner voice tells me that it is not yet the real thing. The theory says a lot, but does not really bring us any closer to the secret of the ‘old one’ (God). I at any rate am convinced that He is not playing at dice.” Since then, Einstein’s aphorism, “God does not play dice with the universe,” has echoed down as a direct criticism to express his discomfort with the probabilistic and uncertain nature of Quantum Mechanics. Einstein believed that there must be some deeper, hidden laws or variables that we don’t understand yet. Even when, Einstein had to accept the success of Quantum Mechanics, his so-called error- ‘spooky action’ proved foundational to major scientific breakthroughs latter.
Einstein’s invocation of “God” in his writings was not in a religious sense; rather, he used the term metaphorically to express his belief in a rational and orderly universe. Einstein did not believe in a personal God who intervenes in human affairs. He felt deep awe and respect for the mystery, complexity, beauty and order of the universe and spoke it as “cosmic religious feeling”. He says that, if something in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far the science has revealed. He admired Spinoza’s Gods concept of a divine presence inherent in the natural world. As reported in 1929, by the New York Times, a famous exchange with Einstein, Rabbi Goldstein-a pioneering Orthodox Jewish leader, asked him a question on radiogram from Germany “Do you believe in God?” Einstein responded, I believe in “Spinoza’s God” who reveals Himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns Himself with fates and actions of human beings. Baruch Spinoza-17th-century Dutch-Jewish philosopher equated God with nature and believed that events occur according to natural laws. The interview was widely published which triggered global discussions on science and religion. With his positive acceptance of God, the Rabbi was of the opinion that Einstein surely could not be classified either as an atheist or an agnostic.
In 1930, Einstein published an article “Religion and Science”, in the New York Times Magazine, where he discusses three stages of religious thought, viz, religion of fear, moral religion and what he called ‘cosmic religious feeling’ . He criticizes morality based religion, purely on fear of punishment or desire for reward. He says that “the ethical behavior of man is better based on sympathy, education and social relationship, and requires no support from religion. Man’s plight would indeed be sad if he had to be kept in order through fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.” In a 1929 at a dinner party in Berlin, when asked about his belief in God, Einstein responded “Try and penetrate with our limited means the secrets of nature and you will find that, behind all the discernible laws and connections, there remains something subtle, intangible, and inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond anything that we can comprehend is my religion. To that extent, I am, in fact, religious.” During his lifetime, he consistently rejected accusations of being an atheist. He once told a friend, “There are people who say there is no God, but what makes me really angry is that they quote me to support such views.” Einstein’s compilations “The World As I See It (1984)” and “Ideas and Opinions (1954)” contain essays and reflections based on life, society, politics, ethics, religion, science and philosophy.
Einstein famous saying “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind,” appeared in his address “Science and Religion” in 1939, in a conference. Einstein argues that science and religion are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary, underscoring his belief in a symbiotic relationship between the two. He says that “conflict arises when a religious community insists on the absolute truthfulness of all statements recorded in the Bible… These conflicts have all sprung from fatal errors… Even though the realms of religion and science in themselves are clearly marked off from each other, nevertheless there exist between the two strong reciprocal relationships and dependencies”.
For Einstein, science uncovers facts, provides knowledge, methods and the tools to explore the physical universe, while religion speaks to our conscience, offers moral values and ethical guidance. Science without guiding values can become dangerous, while religion without reason may slip into superstition and dogma which may mislead humanity. Einstein by no means tries to discourage people from having religious faiths, rather he urges people to remain faithful in the light of scientific progress. He advocated for a dialogue between the two, each enriching the other, in the quest for understanding the universe, towards genuine human progress.
Dr Mohammed Amin Malik is an academician, researcher and columnist currently serving as College Principal in the Higher Education Department J&K.
