I hadn't really read a rich few paragraphs like this on Spinoza's views, at least not in a long time, but I've had mixed sentiments over the years when encountering these responses of Einstein.

• I think the case can be made that Einstein did a large amount of damage throughout the world by not just giving a straight atheist answer. Or, if he did not think of himself as a full-blown atheist, then the case can be made that he did damage by not figuring it out that there isn't any sort of god. (One can read things like Spinoza's comments and conclude that the speaker had figured out that there isn't any God, but I think the case can be made that failure to make a clear unequivocal atheist statement did real damage and that the speaker could have figured out that this damage would be a result).

• On the other hand, the case can be made that Einstein did the world a strong service, a service that some atheists would not properly appreciate, by insisting that a profession of godlessness (if that's what it is) should be accompanied by deeper more clear moral claims that show the speaker is not disavowing this world but claiming it.

Either way, as I read their points, and relating those points to my own Jewish upbringing and path to atheism, it is not surprising to me that both Spinoza and Einstein came from somewhere within Jewish upbringings of some sort (I don't know exactly how much training or constraining intellectual aspects were placed on either of them... there can of course be a wide range, just as in other religious cultures). It is I think not entirely uncommon for some of the more famous and secularly accomplished sharp thinkers within Jewish culture over the last few hundred years to edge closer, not just in their thinking but even in some of their public statements, to the precipice of godlessness in ways that would not be recognized as being as common within various parts of Christian culture.

I also think maybe the path to "coming out" as to godlessness (or sitting on the fence, or coming out to oneself but being compelled by threatening circumstances to keep some, much or all of one's lack of theism hidden) .... coming out as to godlessness and lack of belief in superstition and supernatural this-and-that in public statements may be a bit different in Judaism than in various parts of Christianity, Islam and other belief cultures, and has probably changed over the centuries, countries, events.

Damn Spinoza wrote all that? Why arent they teaching that in schools?

Always loved Spinoza's unique views on Pantheism !
I am still convinced he was really an Atheist , he just could not say so for safety reasons .
Erased himself twice at least . Very fascinating person !
Thank You for posting this ! ‍

Has anyone found an authoritative source that attributes these quotes to Spinoza? It sounds more like Hedonism to me. In any case, I love the last line, "The only thing for sure is that you are here, that you are alive, that this world is full of wonders."

To me at first glance it seems like lovely words, however it doesn’t say anything about to do whatever with consideration to others.

To think and live in a rational manner, such a breath of fresh air in a world filled with stagnant religious thoughts.

I'll bet this goes over well in church

Sounds like a decent plan to me.

As for Einstein:
“I cannot conceive of a God who rewards and punishes his creatures, or has a will of the type of which we are conscious in ourselves. An individual who should survive his physical death is also beyond my comprehension, nor do I wish it otherwise; such notions are for the fears or absurd egoism of feeble souls. Enough for me the mystery of the eternity of life, and the inkling of the marvellous structure of reality, together with the single-hearted endeavour to comprehend a portion, be it never so tiny, of the reason that manifests itself in nature.”