“The important thing is never to stop questioning.”

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.

The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice.

I love it

What do you know about politic sister

Not according to the RNC and the McCain-Palin people.

Ask Obama a question and he trips all over himself, unless it's written on a teleprompter.

In regard to our dear departed uber-geek I would say this quote is very likely out of context. He was one of the smartest men around and he clearly understood that one must arrive at Answers to be of any use. When he read of Hubble's findings in 1931 he was willing to acknowledge his 'static universe' theory was flawed, that there had to be a Beginning after all. Now that is wisdom when you can admit to being wrong. Proverbs 18:2 " A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."

Leave it to a preacher to try and twist Einstein's words to back up his own contradictory beliefs. (I think Patrick picked a perfect Proverb to describe his own practice of only leaving comments when he is expressing his religious opinions as absolute truth.) I would assert that 'to keep questioning' was how Einstein achieved greatness. When it comes to scientific theories, all are still up for further questioning and study.

There are things I accept as absolutes (the love of God and my family, law, justice, science) that I believe do not fall into what is here covered. There is God, family, law, justice, science, etc. - question each and every, what they are, what they do, how they relate, their reality, etc. Great concept! For those that have their own esoteric absolutes, let them question those. Its all out there to be discovered and understood by the questioning inquisitor.

Ask McCain and Palin a questions and they'll tell a lie that's if they can read the teleprompter - God, family, law, justice, science are NOT ABSOLUTES (these things always change) Mike what pipe are you smoking - each one of these has the right to be questioned. It is this ignorance and religious fundamentalism that will divide this country. Never stop questioning what you believe to be authority. Palin has said that Iraq is God task - I believe many people would question that belief - my big question to God is why your followers have so much hate and are so intolerant towards others. Why is it that Abraham, who is the father of the three main religions was allowed to cause so much blood shed and mayhem. Why is the law so unjust to some and so forgiving to others, what does creationism to do with science. Whats the point of not questioning the beliefs of others and better still your ownbeliefs. It is through question that we mature, we grow, we discover, we are reborn. Unless we can question what we hold to be aboslute we have no right to question others.

Robert, are you disagreeing with me just for argument's sake? (how progressive of you) You obviously didn't read what I wrote. I said: "question each and every, what they are, what they do, how they relate, their reality, etc. Great concept!" Are you saying, by way of example, that science doesn't exist because it changes and, that the fundamental belief that science exists will divide this country. If you're saying Atheism - as a religion, with its faith based dogmas such as evolution (forced without question on the public) and, religious applied tenets such as forced charity will conflict with intelligent design and voluntary charity, I agree, a division is coming. If you're saying, I shouldn't question Atheism, God, family, law, justice, science, etc. I disagree.

P.S. (-; I'm smoking the brown pipe ;-)

Hey, Al! The science is settled, so shut the hell up. By the way, Albert didn't exactly practice what he preached. He never accepted quantum mechanics because he could not accept the idea of uncertainty in his ideal universe. For him, the science was settled and it did not include QM. As a result he wasted much of his later career trying to prove QM was wrong and the rest of science left him behind. It is sad when even a great mind cannot admit he's wrong, or maybe it's the hardest thing to do when you have a great mind.

Mike, yes, I was picking on you, and you are right of course. I was just being the protagonist. And, yes, I agree you must question all those things, even my own atheism. Have you ever seen the play "The Battle of Shrivings" by Peter Shaffer staring John Gielgud and Patrick Magee (they were fabulous) - it hits on these very topics.

Robert, atheism IS fundamentalism. I could call myself no more an atheist than a Christian -- I wouldn't dare to presume. I have my copy of the Upanishads here, and 'God' is mentioned dozens of times a page, so I find your supposed atheism to be surprising given the number of times you have quoted from it. I believe life to be a grand mystery, so why spoil it with answers? ;-)

People survive because of who they are, not who they pretend to be!!!

BNJER