Science and Religion by Albert Einstein-Study notes

Multiple Choice Questions

1. If the rationalistic standpoint is expressed without sympathy, it becomes –

a) One-sided statement b) a great concept c)an important conviction d) fatal errors

2. According to Albert Einstein, Religion should deal with –

a)decisive weakness b)personal god c)evaluations of human thought and action d)relationships between facts

3. Earlier, there were a few beliefs that did not themselves rest on knowledge. They were known as –

a)religion b)superstition c) judgment d)conceptualization

4. The main source of the present-day conflicts between the spheres of religion and science lies in the concept of – a)evaluations b)fantasy c)education d)a personal god

5. The path to genuine religiosity lies through –

a)striving after rational knowledge b)the fear of life c)the fear of death d)blind faith

6. The outstanding organ for the people’s education was –

a)School b)Science c) Religion d)Society

7. Knowledge of what is –

i) tells us about religion ii)opens the door directly about what should be iii) does not open the door directly about what should be iv) takes us to superstition

8. Intelligence makes clear to us-

i) the interrelation between means and ends ii) the interrelation between science and religion iii) the interrelation between facts and reasons iv) the interrelation between knowledge and superstition

9. It is true that convictions –

i) cannot be supported with experience and clear-thinking ii)are able to be supported with experience and clear thinking iii) are always supported with experience and clear-thinking iv)are always rejected by others

10. Albert Einstein was –

i)atheist ii)pantheist iii)theists iv)heretic

11. According to Einstein, Jewish-Christian tradition gives us-

i)the highest principles of religion ii)the highest principles for our aspirations and judgments iii) moral lessons iv) innovative ideas

12. In ‘Science and Religion,’ Einstein presents a reciprocal relationship between-

i)Science and Religion ii)thoughts and ideas iii)philosophy and literature iv)Religion and personal life

13. What do the rulers in totalitarian states strive for?

i)The rulers in totalitarian states strive for destroying the spirit of humanity ii)The rulers in totalitarian states strive for destroying the spirit of unity iii)The rulers in totalitarian states strive for spreading the spirit of humanity iv)The rulers in totalitarian states strive for achieving the spirit of humanity

14. Science purifies-

i) rational knowledge ii) wisdom iii)thoughts iv)the religious impulse of the dross of its anthropomorphism

15. Albert Einstein won the Noble Prize in Physics in –

i) 1920 ii)1923 iii)1921 iv)1944

16. According to Einstein convictions can best be supported with —

i)experience and clear thinking ii) emotion and experience iii)emotion and aspiration iv)knowledge and aspiration

Short Answer Type Questionsa person standing in front of a blackboard with a blackboard and a black

1. Who can create science according to Albert Einstein?

Ans- Those people who try to bring things toward the truth and understanding can create science according to Albert Einstein.

2. What was the sole function of education during the last century according to Albert Einstein?

Ans- To open the way to thinking and knowing was the sole function of education during the last century.

3. How does Science make us religious?

Ans: Though scientific ideas are subject to change, scientific ideas increase our understanding of how the natural world works. With the help of science, we can know the truth which makes us free from arrogance and attachment to the materialistic world. In this way, we perform every action as a service to God and become religious.

4. What do you mean by a ‘thesis’? How should it be stated?

Ans- A thesis is a statement that is discussed logically and presented with evidence to prove that it is true.

It should be stated clearly and openly so that human beings get a clear concept of its nature.

5. Where does the main source of the present-day conflict between the spheres of religion and science lie?

Ans- The main source of the present-day conflict between the spheres of religion and science lies in the concept of a personal god.

6. Why does Einstein believe that the priest must become a teacher as well?

Ans: As the realization of God is an understanding of the inherent order of nature, the path to genuine religiosity lies through striving after rational knowledge. So the priest who wishes to do justice to his lofty educational mission must become a teacher because a teacher can spread rational knowledge about the universe among people.

7. How were vast powers placed in the hands of priests?

Ans: The doctrine of a personal god which is the source of fear and hope, placed vast powers in the hands of priests.

8. What is the role of intelligence?

Ans: Intelligence makes us clear about the interrelation of means and ends.

9. What does the scientific method teach us?

Ans: Scientific method teaches us how facts are related to, and conditioned by each other.

10.Describe Spinoza’s god.

Ans: Spinoza, one of the greatest philosophers, rejects the concept of god and accepts God as everything and everything is God According to him, “Whatever is, is in God, and nothing can be or be conceived without God”.

11. What do you mean by the ‘rule of fixed necessity’?

Ans: The rule of fixed necessity refers to the idea that certain events necessarily follow certain causes by the operation of fixed laws.

12. Where do we face the limits of the purely rational conception of our existence and why?

Ans: We face the limits of the purely rational conception of our existence in the knowledge of the truth as it is so little capable of acting as a guide that it cannot prove even the justification and the value of the aspiration toward that very knowledge of the truth.

13. How are the decisive weaknesses attached to the idea of the existence of a personal god?

Ans: If personal god exists as omnipotent, every occurrence, including every human action, every human thought, and every human feeling and aspiration is also His work and god would pass judgment on Himself while giving out punishment and rewards to people for their deeds and thoughts. So the decisive weaknesses are attached to the idea of the existence of a personal god.

14. When will the teachers of religion recognize religion to be ennobled by scientific knowledge?

Ans: When the teachers of religion utilize those forces that are capable of cultivating goodness, truth, and beauty in humanity, the teachers of religion will recognize that religion is ennobled by scientific knowledge.

15. What is the goal of religion?

Ans: The goal of religion is to liberate mankind as far as possible from the bondage of egocentric cravings, desires, and fears.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. What is the difference between science and religion?

Ans: Science can explain what is but cannot explain what should be whereas religion cannot explain what is. Science only addresses facts and their relations to other facts, but religion cannot speak of facts and the relationship between facts as religion only addresses evaluations of human thoughts and actions.

Science tells the truth based on some observation and evidence, but sometimes scientific theories and inventions cannot fulfil all the requirements of human aspiration. On the other hand, religion defines all the aspects and necessary points of human life and teaches mankind to spend their lives on specific rules and regulations that religion has.

2. How do science and religion influence each other?

Ans: According to Einstein, religion defines the goal and objectives for mankind but it learns about methods of fulfilling the goal from science. Science is created by those who try to bring things toward the truth and understanding, but the source of their feelings arises from the sphere of religion. Faith also exists there in the possibility of regulations. The faith that the regulations which are valid for the world of existence are rational. Einstein explains their coexistence through a statement, ‘Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.’

3. Describe Einstein’s god.

Ans: Einstein does not believe in a personal god who concerns himself with the fates and actions of human beings. His god does not follow the concept of anthropomorphism. His god has no personality, consciousness, emotions, or will to create fear of god and superstition in the human brain. He worships nature as his god. According to him, the laws of nature manifest a spirit that is superior to human beings, so Order manifests itself in everything and its majesty becomes Einstein’s god.

4. How did Einstein define science and religion?

Ans: Einstein defined science and religion as complementary fields, and he proposed a cooperative union in which science offered facts for religious interpretation. According to Einstein, Science is the century-old endeavour to bring together using systematic thought the perceptible phenomena of this world into a throughgoing an association as possible whereas religion is the age-old endeavour of mankind, to become clearly and completely conscious of these values and goals and constantly to strengthen and extend their effect.

5. When does a conflict arise between science and religion?

Ans: A conflict arises between science and religion when a religious community claims the absolute truthfulness of all statements recorded in the Bible. This way religion interferes in the sphere of science because of the religious community, and the Church struggles against the doctrines of Galileo and Darwin. On the other hand, some representatives of science have often endeavoured to reach fundamental decisions regarding values and goals based on scientific methods, and they have set themselves against religion. This way science and religion both create an unbeatable conflict with each other due to some fatal errors.

6. How does Albert Einstein describe the concept of a personal god?

Ans: During the early age human beings created gods in their image with the help of fantasy, and these gods were supposed to influence the phenomenal world. The humans sought to change the inclination of these gods in their favour using magic and prayer. The idea of God which people learn at present is a refinement of that old concept of the gods. According to Albert Einstein, ‘Its anthropomorphic character is shown, for instance, by the fact that men appeal to the Divine Being in prayers and plead for the fulfilment of their wishes.’

Undeniably, the idea of the personal God can give comfort, help, and guidance to human beings, and this concept is so simple that the most undeveloped mind can access it, but a few decisive weaknesses have been attached to this idea in itself since the beginning of history. That is every occurrence, including every human action, every human thought, and every human feeling and aspiration is also God’s work as he is omnipotent, humans cannot be responsible for their deeds and thoughts before the Almighty, and God would to a certain extent be passing judgment on Himself in giving out punishment and rewards. This way the Almighty cannot be combined with the goodness and righteousness which are ascribed to Him. So, Albert Einstein rejected the concept of a personal God and considers it the main source of the present-day conflicts between religion and science.

Exercise

A. Answer the following questions in a complete sentence.

1. Who can accord man solace, help, and guidance?

2. What is the weak point of a man’s conception if he agrees with the extreme rationalist?

3. How did Einstein characterize the followers of his cosmic religion?

4. How can scientific reasoning help religion?

5. How does personal god come into being?

6. What does objective knowledge provide us?

7. Where do we face the limits of the purely rational conception of our existence?

8. Where are the highest principles for our aspirations and judgments given to us?

9. What is the high destiny of the individual?

10. What should be the function of education of the school?

11. When did Albert Einstein win the Nobel Prize?

12. Why does Einstein believe that the priest can become a teacher as well?

13. Write the most important function that religion has to perform in the social life of man.

14. When does the means itself become an end?

15. What kind of convictions cannot be found only along the solid scientific way?

16.“The rationalistic standpoint expressed in such crass form”- What do you mean by “rationalistic standpoint”?

17. What is given in the Jewish Christian religious tradition? How does it become helpful to us?

18. What do you mean by ‘superstition’?

19. What do you mean by ‘human aspiration’?

20. When do our existence and our activity acquire meaning?

21. Where does the path of genuine religiosity lie according to Einstein?

22. How will true knowledge be ennobled and more profound by scientific knowledge?

23. How were the vast powers placed in the hands of priests?

24. What is the main source of the present-day conflict between the spheres of religion and science?

25. How are the decisive weaknesses attached to the idea of the existence of a personal god?

26. What shall we not face if the longing for the achievement of the goal is not powerfully alive within us?

27. Why do all means become a blunt instrument to meet the danger in various fields?

B. Answer any of the following questions in about 80 words :

1. What did advanced minds opine about knowledge and belief? What was the only function of education to them?

2. What can the scientific method teach us? What shortcomings do the scientific method have?

3. Why did Albert Einstein think that there could not be a conflict between science and religion?

4. Describe Einstein’s conception of God.

5. What kind of relationship did Einstein want to present between science and religion?

6. How did mankind create a personal god during old age?

7. What characterizes the aspirations of a person who gives the impression of being religious according to Albert Einstein?

8. What is the most important function of religion according to Albert Einstein? How does it exist in society?

9. How did Einstein resolve the conflicts between religion and science? What is the main source of the present-day conflicts between the spheres of religion and science?

C. Do as directed:

1. Albert Einstein said, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind. (Change the narration)

2. Beliefs that did not rest on knowledge were superstitions. (Split into two sentences)

3. Science not only purifies the religious impulse of the dross of its anthropomorphism but also contributes to a religious spiritualization of our understanding of life. (Split into two sentences)

4. Religion, on the other hand, deals only with evaluations of human thought and action: it cannot justifiably speak of facts and relationships between facts. (Split into Simple sentences)

5. Albert Einstein said, “Are we not all children of one father, as it is said in religious language” (Change the narration)

6. The Path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life and fear of death and blind faith. It lies through striving after rational knowledge. (Join into a simple sentence)

7. I can never under any circumstances bring together, even to a slight extent, the thoughts of all those who have given this question serious consideration. (Split into simple sentences)

Disclaimer: This content is created solely for educational and informational purposes. It draws upon publicly available educational materials, literary texts, and the author’s own interpretation. All summaries, analyses, and explanations are original and intended to support learning. No copyright infringement is intended.