A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death. -Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate (1879-1955)
This statement reveals a rather impoverished understanding of religion and its relationship to ethics. True religion, at least as far as Christianity and Judaism, are concerned, is based on love of God and of God’s creatures. (Dt 6:5, Mt 22:37-40) In other words, a moral person’s actions are motivated by love, not fear of punishment and hope of reward. Moreover, sympathy, education, and social ties are rather weak foundations on which to build an ethical system.
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