God and No Other

Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

--Albert Einstein

One often hears this quote, or something like it, thrown about in derision of appeals to authority. Yes, things like this are said with a guffaw in haughty dismissal of Christian claims, as detractors unthinkingly assume that there can be no such thing as a thinking respect for authority, as if authority in and of itself were irrational, as if unthinking disrespect for authority were a superior alternative. It seems to me that the first adjective in the quote above is rather irrelevant, rendering the remainder of the statement patently false. Whether or not the respect afforded results from thoughtful reflection or mere submission, the truth, as object, of any matter is not affected. The real question is whether the authority is true, thus commanding respect as a rational response, or usurped, thus deserving no respectful deference whatever. In fact, it would appear, the truth of Christianity does not stand or fall on the thoughtfulness of its adherents. It stands or falls on the authority of the Divine. The detractor can, therefore, find no solace in the human frailty of his opponent. It is with God that he has to do. It is with God that he must wrestle. God and no other.

Honor, Liberty, Truth!