Tennessee State Rep. Fails to Grasp Basic Facts About Einstein

The above is a charming moment from the Tennessee House of Representatives floor. Republican (obviously) state representative Frank Nicely argues that Albert Einstein would have wanted creationism to be taught alongside evolution in public schools, because "Albert Einstein said that a little knowledge would turn your head toward atheism, while a broader knowledge would turn your head toward Christianity." Nope!

As Brad Johnson at ThinkProgress notes, Einstein was a) Jewish, b) a professed agnostic, and c) never said that quote (it's a butchered version of something Francis Bacon wrote in the 1500s). Better luck next time, wingnuts!

[ThinkProgress]

[rgray@villagevoice.com] [@_rosiegray]

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