"Do scientists pray?"
A young girl named Phyllis penned a polite and inquisitive note to Albert Einstein,
and she was probably surprised to receive a considerate reply.
She wrote:
January 19, 1936
My dear Dr. Einstein,
We have brought up the question: Do scientists pray? in our Sunday school class. It began by
asking whether we could believe in both science and religion. We are writing to scientists and other
important men to try and have our own question answered.
We will feel greatly honored if you will answer our question: Do scientists pray, and what do they
pray for?
We are in the sixth grade, Miss Ellis's class.
Respectfully yours,
Phyllis
.............................................................................................................................
He replied a mere five days later, sharing with her his thoughts on faith and science:
January 24, 1936
Dear Phyllis,
I will attempt to reply to your question as simply as I can. Here is my answer:
Scientists believe that every occurrence, including the affairs of human beings, is due to the laws
of nature. Therefore a scientist cannot be inclined to believe that the course of events can be
influenced by prayer, that is, by a supernaturally manifested wish.
However, we must concede that our actual knowledge of these forces is imperfect, so that in the
end the belief in the existence of a final, ultimate spirit rests on a kind of faith. Such belief remains
widespread even with the current achievements in science.
But also, everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that some
spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe, one that is vastly superior to that of man. In this way
the pursuit of science leads to a religious feeling of a special sort, which is surely quite different
from the religiosity of someone more naive.
With cordial greetings,
your A. Einstein
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/religion/
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.. (GRAPJE) (Die ken ik wel een beetje, al was dat maar met een docent van mij op de HOVO) ..