User:Yt95/Einstein & RCC

notes regarding edit history and contributions of Albert Einstein's religious views

New article "Albert Einstein and the Roman Catholic Church" ?
The article Albert Einstein's religious views contains a brief account of Einsteins views on the Catholic Church and perhaps it could be expanded to go into more details and provide enhanced contextual information of his views. As always contributions are welcome:

Einstein has been quoted as making various statements about "the Church" in general and the Catholic Church in particular. Speaking in March 1930 Einstein responded to a comment regarding the Roman Catholic German Centre Party who at that time formed part of the majority coalition. He replied "The Center Party? When you learn the history of the Catholic Church, you wouldn't trust the Center Party. Hasn't Hitler promised to smash the Bolsheviks in Russia? The Church will bless its Catholic soldiers to march alongside the Nazis" When questioned if this would lead to a bloodbath Einstein replied “Didn’t the Church bless it’s Catholic soldiers who went with God, Kaiser, and Fatherland..I predict that the Vatican will support Hitler if he comes to power. The Church since Constantine has always favored the authoritarian State, as long as the State allows the Church to baptize and instruct the masses." In 1933 the Vatican signed a concordat with Nazi Germany to protect the rights of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany. Einstein thought that too often in history men have ignored truth and followed the battle cry. When it was put to him that it was only human nature to choose the path of least resistance Einstein responded “It is indeed human, as proved by Cardinal Pacelli (the future Pope Pius XII), who was behind the Concordat with Hitler. Since when can one make a pact with Christ and Satan at the same time? And he is now the Pope!", further adding "The Church has always sold itself to those in power, and agreed to any bargain in return for immunity." When Einstein was told how Pius XII informed a Polish priest to keep silent about the murder of Jews because the Concordat “obliged the Church to tread softly.” He replied “There are cosmic laws, Dr. Harmanns. They cannot be bribed by prayers or incense. What an insult to the principles of creation. But remember, that for God a thousand years is a day. This power maneuver of the Church, these Concordats through the centuries with worldly powers…the Church has to pay for it.” When Einstein was informed that Bishops in Germany were now ordered to swear allegiance to the National Socialist regime in the aftermath of the signing of the Concordat Einstein responded with “I’m not a Communist but I can well understand why they destroyed the Church in Russia. All the wrongs come home, as the proverb says. The Church will pay for its dealings with Hitler, and Germany too.” He further recalled how Jews had suffered through Christian charges of ritual murder and poisoning of wells in an attempt to destroy their concept of God and commented that “With a few exceptions, the Roman Catholic Church has stressed the value of dogma and ritual, conveying the idea theirs is the only way to reach heaven. I don't need to go to Church to hear if I'm good or bad; my heart tells me this". In March 1943 Einstein commented on the widespread violence of the Nazi regime, "But what makes me shudder is that the Catholic Church is silent. One doesn't need to be a prophet to say, 'The Catholic Church will pay for this silence...I do not say that the unspeakable crimes of the Church for 2,000 years had always the blessing of the Vatican, but it vaccinated its believers with the idea: We have the true God, and the Jews have crucified Him.' The Church sowed hate instead of love, though the ten commandments state: Thou shalt not kill" Three years after the war ended Einstein, in a response to a Catholic convert who asked "Didn't you state that the Church was the only opponent of Communism?", he replied "I don't have to emphasise that the Church at last became a strong opponent of National Socialism, as well" (Einsteins secretary added "Dr. Einstein didn't mean only the Catholic church, but all churches.") When the convert mentioned that family members had been gassed by the Nazis Einstein replied that "he also felt guilty --adding that the whole Church, beginning with the Vatican, should feel guilt."

Einstein observed that men often wished him to convert to their beliefs but felt that conversion should begin with themselves and that they should avoid "power politics" considering "the mass misery they have produced in Spain, South America and Russia."