EINSTEIN. Typed letter signed re: his position on

EINSTEIN, Albert (1879 - 1955). Typed letter signed discussing his position on God.Princeton: 25 October 1950. 1 page (280 x 214 mm). Signed "A. Einstein". Typed on Einstein's stationery (embossed stamp at header), with original mailing envelope. Addressed to Mr. Berkowitz of Brooklyn. Condition: usual folds; envelope lightly worn. Provenance: the correspondent, by descent. an important letter from einstein in the latter years of his life responding to a letter from the young jewish man in search of his faith, gives an answer to life's great question. "my position concerning God is that of an agnostic." I am convinced that vivid consciousness of the primary importance of moral principles for the betterment and enoblement of life does not need the idea of a law-giver, especially a law-giver who works on the behalf of punishment." The physicist closes by sending along a copy of one of his books "containing occasional writings where you will find more about this subject."One such article written in this period by Einstein suggests his belief in an intelligent design to the universe, while not being concerned about an afterlife. "I cannot conceive of a God who rewards and punishes his creatures, or has a will of the kind that we experience in ourselves. Neither can I nor would I want to conceive of an individual that survives his physical death; let feeble souls, from fear or absurd egoism, cherish such thoughts. I am satisfied with the mystery of the eternity of life and with the awareness and a glimpse of the marvelous structure of the existing world, together with the devoted striving to comprehend a portion, be it ever so tiny, of the Reason that manifests itself in nature." (The World as I See It American Institute of Physics Online). In the last decade of his life Einstein spent time pondering his beliefs writing several works outlining his view of the world science and God. Einstein letters on the subject of God are very rare. [With:] Einstein, Albert. The World as I See it. New York: The Philosphical Library, [1949]. Publisher's cloth in original dust jacket. Condition: jacket worn. signed by einstein.