The father of relativity, whose previously known views on religion have been more ambivalent and fuelled much discussion, made the comments in response to a philosopher in 1954.

As a Jew himself, Einstein said he had a great affinity with Jewish people but said they "have no different quality for me than all other people".

"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish.

"No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this," he wrote in the letter written on January 3, 1954 to the philosopher Eric Gutkind, cited by The Guardian newspaper.

The German-language letter is being sold Thursday by Bloomsbury Auctions in Mayfair after being in a private collection for more than 50 years, said the auction house's managing director Rupert Powell.

In it, the renowned scientist, who declined an invitation to become Israel's second president, rejected the idea that the Jews are God's chosen people.

"For me the Jewish religion like all others is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions," he said.

"And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people."

And he added: "As far as my experience goes, they are no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."

Previously the great scientist's comments on religion -- such as "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind" -- have been the subject of much debate, used notably to back up arguments in favour of faith.

Powell said the letter being sold this week gave a clear reflection of Einstein's real thoughts on the subject. "He's fairly unequivocal as to what he's saying. There's no beating about the bush," he told AFP. http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080513122249.m3ds3b6j&show_article=1

For some, this revelation settles everything.

"See! Einstein thought faith was silly. You can't deny that. Unless you think you are smarter than Einstein."

Well, I can't deny that Einstein and I would disagree on the inspiration and reliability of the Bible.

But consider this.

Einstein and Jesus Christ would also disagree on the inspiration and trustworthiness of the Bible.

Ahmadinejad has always been a devotee of the Mahdi, the twelfth imam of Shiite Islam, who Shiites believe disappeared more than a thousand years ago and who will return one day to usher in a new era of peace and harmony.

But in a speech to theology students broadcast by state television on Monday, Ahmadinejad went further than ever before in emphasising his belief that the Mahdi is playing a critical role in Iran's day-to-day politics.

"The Imam Mahdi is in charge of the world and we see his hand directing all the affairs of the country," he said in the speech, which appears to date from last month but has only now been broadcast.

"We must solve Iran's internal problems as quickly as possible. Time is lacking. A movement has started for us to occupy ourselves with our global responsibilities, which are arriving with great speed."

Two leading clerics retorted that Ahmadinejad would be better off concentrating on Iran's social problems -- most notably its double-digit inflation -- than indulging in such mystical rhetoric.

"If Ahmadinejad wants to say that the hidden imam is supporting the decisions of the government, it is not true," sniped Gholam Reza Mesbahi Moghadam, the spokesman of the conservative Association of Combatant Clerics.

"For sure, the hidden imam does not approve of inflation of 20 percent, the high cost of living and numerous other errors," he said, according to the Kargozaran daily.

Ali Asghari, a member of the conservative Hezbollah faction in parliament, told the president not to link the management of the country to the imam.

"Ahmadinejad would do better to worry about social problems like inflation ... and other terrestrial affairs," Etemad Melli daily quoted him as saying.

Since becoming president in 2005, Ahmadinejad has repeatedly stated that his government is paving the way for the return of the Mahdi and chided his foes for not believing that his return is imminent. http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080507094625.zy32hvir&show_article=1

Now all this would be comical if it were not for the fact that Ahmadinejhad's government is feverishly working on developing atomic weapons.

Or the fact that they already possess missile technology able to hit any point in continental Europe.

Or that Ahmadinejhad has vowed to wipe Israel off the map with a single blow.

The inception of an alliance between Vlad Putin's Russia and Ahmadinejad's Iran is frighteningly in line with the predicted Last Days invasion of Israel in Ezekiel 38-39.

Even more significantly, Ahmadinejad's belief in the Imam Mahdi also stipulates that he will return at a time when a global war is already taking place.

We have seen examples in the conflict in Iraq where Ahmadinejad's fellow Shiite Moslems have instigated conflicts with the idea of forcing the arrival of the Mahdi to take place.

If Ahmadinejad's fanatical devotion to his messianic vision is so intense it is raising eyebrows among his fellow Shiite leaders in Iran, it begs the question of just how far he would be willing to go to see his dream come true.

Jesus warned of an increase in "wars and rumors of wars" as the time of His return would draw near. (Matthew 24:6-8)

Wouldn't it be ironic if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was unwittingly setting the stage for an entirely different set of prophecies to be fulfilled?