God, I knew that Planck was a Theist, but I never knew he held such thoughtful beliefs or that he was as outspoken.

It's pretty common knowledge that Einstein's belief infuriated some of his collegues, but it looks as if Planck was right up there with him.  

The typical response you get when you bring up Newton or Galileo's belief is "Oh, well.......they lived before the Age of Reason."  Not so with Max and Albert!  :)

Catch this one I just came across!  I can see Dawkins choking on his hot dog right now!  "Tut, tut, ahem, bluster, bluster.........um......let's get back to bashing the easy Fundamentalist Targets!"    ;)

"Under these conditions it is no wonder, that the movement of atheists, which declares religion to be just a deliberate illusion, invented by power-seeking priests, and which has for the pious belief in a higher Power nothing but words of mockery, eagerly makes use of progressive scientific knowledge and in a presumed unity with it, expands in an ever faster pace its disintegrating action on all nations of the earth and on all social levels. I do not need to explain in any more detail that after its victory not only all the most precious treasures of our culture would vanish, but – which is even worse – also any prospects at a better future."

Max Planck - Religion und Naturwissenschaft (Leipzig, 1958)

This quote looks like it might have been directed at Sam Harris who believes that atheists' biggest challege is to stop fighting the idea of Theism and expose faulty thinking (paraphrased).  That way Theism will just die out...... (from an edited transcript of a talk given at the Atheist Alliance conference in Washington D.C. on September 28th, 2007)

and as Planck would probably say......to our loss.

You know, now that I think about it.......one of the things that Atheists always bring up is the horrible catastrophes visited upon humanity in the name of Religion.   How come we never hear them criticize the fantastic Art and Music which is created by the pious?  How come we never hear them criticize the medical and food care sent in the name of God to less fortunate people in less fortunate countries?

A great deal of the time you will hear them say that the vast majority of wars have been fought in the name of religion........conveniently leaving out Stalin, Hitler, Mao and Pol Pot.......all atheistic in outlook.

I might change my mind when I see an organization with the name "Atheists' Relief Fund" offloading tons of food in Indonesia after a Tsunami.

Namaste

Pottsie

"You can't smell the roses while holding your nose!" - Pottsie