If this being is omnipotent, then every occurrence, including every human action, every human thought, and every human feeling and aspiration is also His work; how is it possible to think of holding men responsible for their deeds and thoughts before such an almighty Being? In giving out punishment and rewards He would to a certain extent be passing judgment on Himself. How can this be combined with the goodness and righteousness ascribed to Him?
Interpretation
This quote questions the concept of free will in the context of an omnipotent being and the implications for moral responsibility.
Albert Einstein's quote explores the relationship between an omnipotent deity and human responsibility. If a supreme being governs every action and thought, it raises profound questions about accountability and the nature of justice. The quote challenges the compatibility of divine omnipotence with moral judgments, suggesting a conflict between the idea of an all-powerful creator and the human capacity for free will and ethical responsibility.
In practice
In a philosophy class discussing the nature of free will versus determinism.
I cannot then believe in this concept of an anthropomorphic God who has the powers of interfering with these natural laws. As I said before, the most beautiful and most profound religious emotion that we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. And this mysticality is the power of all true science.
If I would follow your advice and Jesus could perceive it, he, as a Jewish teacher, surely would not approve of such behavior.
I want to know all Gods thoughts; all the rest are just details.
In the middle of adversity there is great opportunity.
I do not believe that civilization will be wiped out in a war fought with the atomic bomb. Perhaps two-thirds of the people of the earth will be killed.
To me the worst thing seems to be a school principally to work with methods of fear, force and artificial authority. Such treatment destroys the sound sentiments, the sincerity and the self-confidence of pupils and produces a subservient subject.
The mind is a machine that is constantly asking: What would I prefer? Close your eyes, refuse to move, and watch what your mind does. What it does is become discontent with that-which-is. A desire arises, you satisfy that desire, and another arises in its place.
I had become, with the approach of night, once more aware of loneliness and time - those two companions without whom no journey can yield us anything.
All Christian language about the future is a set of signposts pointing into a mist.
In short, all things that please the natural man in this world, are, to a true Christian, only so many crosses and temptations, allurements of sin and snares of death, that continually exercise his virtue.
A society that is not willing to demand a life of somebody who has taken somebody elseβs life is simply immoral.
Police departments are always a reflection of the society that they serve. Is there such a thing as 'police culture?' Absolutely. Is that culture isolated form the surrounding society? Absolutely not.
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