Religious views[edit]
Gödel was a convinced theist.[20] He held the notion that God was personal, which differed from the religious views of his friend Albert Einstein.
He believed firmly in an afterlife, stating: "Of course this supposes that there are many relationships which today's science and received wisdom haven't any inkling of. But I am convinced of this [the afterlife], independently of any theology." It is "possible today to perceive, by pure reasoning" that it "is entirely consistent with known facts." "If the world is rationally constructed and has meaning, then there must be such a thing [as an afterlife]."[21]
In an unmailed answer to a questionnaire, Gödel described his religion as "baptized Lutheran (but not member of any religious congregation). My belief is theistic, not pantheistic, followingLeibniz rather than Spinoza."[22] Describing religion(s) in general, Gödel said: "Religions are, for the most part, bad—but religion is not".[23] He said about Islam: "I like Islam, it is consistent [or consequential] idea of religion and open-minded".[24]