Cosmic Religious Feeling

Cosmic Religious Feeling is the term used by Albert Einstein to describe the awe and reverence he felt at the raw intelligence he saw revealed by "natural laws," an intelligence so grand that "any human logic falters in comparison." Cosmic Religious Feeling is an example of the Enhanced Positive Affect that often attends Connection Experience

Terms

Cosmic Man, Cosmic Religion, Cosmic Religious Feeling, Einstein Letter to Eric Gutkind, Einstein letter to Phyllis, The Old One

Examples

Enhanced Positive Affect > Beatific Vision, Bliss, Cosmic Religious Feeling, Ecstasy, Euphoria, Happiness, Rapture, Spiritual Emergence, Warmth

List of Connection Outcomes

Connection Outcome > Connection Pathology, Déjà vu, Emotional Cleansing, Emotional Satisfaction, Enlightenment, Existential Terrors, Healing, Liberation, Perfect Connection, Perfected Connection, Perfection, Physical Sensations, Psychotic Mysticism, Realization of Self, Ritambharapragya, Spontaneous Alignment, The Unity, Transformation, Union

Notes

Einstein uses the term both to point to actual religious (i.e. Connection Experience), but also to the specific Connection Outcome which he terms, "cosmic religious feeling."

Einstein felt that amongst the "profounder sort of scientific minds" you'd find each with a "peculiar religious feeling of his own....different from the religion of the naive man [sic]....His religious feeling takes the form of a rapturous amazement at the harmony of natural law, which reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection. This feeling is the guiding principle of his life and work, in so far as he succeeds in keeping himself from the shackles of selfish desire. It is beyond question closely akin to that which has possessed the religious geniuses of all ages."

Einstein felt that cosmic religious feeling was a "religious experience" common to all forms of religions

Einstein outlines his thoughts on this in an essay in the book The World as I See It, in a chapter entitled "Religion and Science."

Einstein felt that "cosmic religious feeling is the strongest and noblest incitement to scientific research" and "the most important function of art and science to awaken this feeling and keep it alive in those who are capable of it." Cosmic religious feeling gives humanity strength ("It is cosmic religious feeling that gives a man strength of this sort.")

Einstein notes that cosmic religious feeling has nothing to do with the fear, morality, and patriarchy of traditional religion.

Footnotes

References

Albert Einstein