God did not create the universe and the "Big Bang" was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics, the eminent British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking argues in a new book.
In "The Grand Design," co-authored with U.S. physicist Leonard Mlodinow, Hawking says a new series of theories made a creator of the universe redundant, according to the Times newspaper which published extracts on Thursday.
"Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist," Hawking writes.
"It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going."
Hawking, 68, who won global recognition with his 1988 book "A Brief History of Time," an account of the origins of the universe, is renowned for his work on black holes, cosmology and quantum gravity.
Since 1974, the scientist has worked on marrying the two cornerstones of modern physics -- Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, which concerns gravity and large-scale phenomena, and quantum theory, which covers subatomic particles.
His latest comments suggest he has broken away from previous views he has expressed on religion. Previously, he wrote that the laws of physics meant it was simply not necessary to believe that God had intervened in the Big Bang.
God did not create the universe, says Hawking - Yahoo! News
While I have no doubt that those who believe in God will try to paint atheism as a religion I can't help but hope they do so. Comparing atheism to a religion shows that all you need to 'validate' your religion is claiming a belief. Regardless of what that belief is. In other words, if I say the spider I am currently looking at on my window is God, then so it is. I don't need anything else. Proving that religion is nothing more than a man made fairy tale. Check, mate.
I strongly disagree. Hawking ignores a fundamental law of physics, known as cause and effect. I don't know if God created the Universe or not, but there is no such thing as spontaneous creation. There was an effect from some cause. Believing that it could have been a God would be more believable than it being spontaneous.
And don't forget that Hawking is not infallible, as demonstrated by his huge error on the black hole information paradox.
And don't forget that Hawking is not infallible, as demonstrated by his huge error on the black hole information paradox.
Well there you go. Might as well shut down all the churches around here, because Stephen Hawking said there is no god.
:roll:
This is why we don't mix science and religion.
I care about his opinion on religion about as much as I care about his opinion on NCAA basketball.The man can have his own opinion. Who doesn't want to hear the opinion of the greatest mind of today?
He's most certainly entitled to his opinion. The problem comes from certain atheists using it as a passive attack on those of faith. It's "nyah nyah" "I'm better than you" juvenile crap and does nothing to advance their cause.The man can have his own opinion. Who doesn't want to hear the opinion of the greatest mind of today?
I care about his opinion on religion about as much as I care about his opinion on NCAA basketball.
Just because you excel in one area doesn't mean you are omniscient.
That's certainly one way to sell books..."Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist," Hawking writes.
That's certainly one way to sell books...
I'm not sure these are questions science can answer - and there's of course no guarantee that we're any more capable of understanding the creation of the universe than a mouse is. We can describe gravity, we sure as hell can't explain it.
To be honest, I don't think we'll ever truly know how the universe began. Atleast until we understand how to bring the two big theory's together. Einstein's General relativity, and sub-atomic theory.
I think people need to be more humble about their faith, instead of so arrogant. Because to be honest, what ever helps you sleep at night, is probably good enough.
If he's so smart, how come he can't figure out how to walk?
BOO YA
It's odd to watch people debate all day that science can't disprove the existence of a God. Then when a scientist proposes a theory making God irrelevant, their response is 'Well that's just his opinion'. More proof that at the end of the day the religious aren't really interested in debating anything.
It's odd to watch people debate all day that science can't disprove the existence of a God. Then when a scientist proposes a theory making God irrelevant, their response is 'Well that's just his opinion'. More proof that at the end of the day the religious aren't really interested in debating anything.
It's odd to watch people debate all day that science can't disprove the existence of a God. Then when a scientist proposes a theory making God irrelevant, their response is 'Well that's just his opinion'. More proof that at the end of the day the religious aren't really interested in debating anything.
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