“The word God is for me nothing but the expression and product of human weakness, the Bible a collection of venerable but still primitive legends. No interpretation, no matter how subtle, can (for me) change anything about this.”
The God Letter is one of Albert Einstein’s most famous letters and one of the most definitive statements in the debate between religion and science. Addressed to philosopher Eric Gutkind, the letter fuses Albert Einstein’s thoughts on religion, his Jewish identity and his own search for meaning in life. This highly significant piece, written a year before Einstein’s death, remains the most fully articulated expression of his religious and philosophical views.
In anticipation of our 4 December 2018 auction at Christie’s New York, the Books and Manuscripts Department is proud to present public and private viewings of Albert Einstein: The God Letter in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City.
Einstein, Albert (1879–1955). The God Letter. Autograph letter signed (“A. Einstein”) to Eric Gutkind, Princeton, 3 January 1954. Estimate: $1,000,000–1,500,000. To be offered in Albert Einstein. The God Letter, New York, 4 December