A famous letter written by the famed Jewish scientist Albert Einstein is set to go under the hammer. 

In the letter from April 1950, Einstein says that as a scientist, he cannot believe the Torah’s creation story because science “replaces and supersedes” religion.

The letter was addressed to a group of Jewish students in the United States and outlines how science "supersedes" religious creation and that God can be thought of as "analogous to humans”.

He wrote: “The person who is more or less trained in scientific thinking is alien to the religious creation (in the original sense) of the cosmos, because he applies the standard of causal conditionality to everything. 

“This does not refute the religious attitude but, in a certain sense, replaces and supersedes it."

Addressing his thoughts on how God might be interpreted in the letter, he goes on to say: "As long as the stories in the Bible had been taken literally, it was obvious what kind of faith was expected from the readers. 

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The letter typed by Albert Einstein to Martha Munk and her students on April 11, 1950 (Photo: The Raab Collection)

“If you are however to interpret the Bible symbolically (metaphorically), it is not clear anymore whether God is in fact to be thought of as a person (and therefore not a monotheistic deity), which is somehow analogous to humans.

"In that case, it is difficult to assess what remains of the faith in its original sense."

The typed letter was sent to Einstein by Martha Munk — a rabbi's wife and religious studies teacher at an unnamed school or college in New York.  In the letter, Munk had asked Einstein to answer questions from her pupils. 

She asked Einstein: "On behalf of the students of a series of lectures on religion, I would like to ask you whether you think that it is possible for a modern scientist to reconcile the idea of the creation of the world by God, a higher power, with his scientific knowledge.”

The new letter adds further insight into Einstein's views on religion. The physicist was raised Jewish and maintained his association with Jewish people, despite not believing in God. 

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The envelope that contained the newly revealed Einstein letter (Photo: The Raab Collection)

The item has been advertised for sale by the Raab Collection in Pennsylvania for $125,000 (£98,000.)

Nathan Raab, principal of The Raab Collection, said: “Not only was the letter written by Albert Einstein, one of the great figures and scientists of all time, it speaks to the ongoing, powerful debate between science and religion.

"It's beyond exciting to get a glimpse of his personal thoughts on such an important issue."

In May 2022, one of his handwritten letters containing his famous E=mc2 equation sold for over £900,000.