Over two dozen of Albert Einstein’s personal letters, some which reveal that he was not an atheist, will be auctioned on Thursday.
California-based auction house Profiles in History is putting the letters up for auction in Los Angeles.
“We all know about what he accomplished, how he changed the world with the theory of relativity. But these letters show the other side of the story — how he advised his children, how he believed in God,” said Joseph Maddalena, founder of Profiles in History, The Associated Press reported.
One of the missives shows one of two interactions he had with a man regarding his faith.
“I have repeatedly said that in my opinion the idea of a personal God is a childlike one. You may call me an agnostic, but I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional atheist. … I prefer an attitude of humility corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and of our own being,” the scientist wrote, AP reported.
Mr. Maddalena said the letters are on sale from $5,000 to $40,000 each. He said the total take could range from $500,000 to $1 million, AP reported.
“These are certainly among the most important things I’ve ever handled,” Mr. Maddalena said, AP reported. “This is not like a Babe Ruth autograph or a signed photo of Marilyn Monroe. These are historically significant.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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